Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

Who comes on the preparation day?

“Joseph of Arimathea” (Mark 15:43).

·      Ἰωσὴφ (Iōsēph) “Joseph of Arimathaea, member of the Sanhedrin, in whose tomb Jesus was buried” (BDAG, 486).

·      Ἁριμαθαίας (Harimathaias) “Arimathea, a city in Judea” (BDAG, 487).

Who is Joseph of Arimathea?

“…a prominent member of the Council…” (Mark 15:43).

·      εὐσχήμων (euschēmōn) “pertaining to being considered especially worthy of public admiration, prominent, of high standing/repute, noble” (BDAG, 414).

·      βουλευτής (bouleutēs) “a member of an advisory or legislative body, councillor (ins, pap, loanword in rabbinical literature); of Joseph of Arimathaea: member of the Sanhedrin” (BDAG, 181).

For what is Joseph of Arimathea waiting?

“…waiting for the kingdom of God…” (Mark 15:43).

·      προσδεχόμενος (prosdechomenos) Masculine Nominative Singular Present Middle/Passive Participle of προσδέχομαι “to look forward to, wait for” (BDAG, 877).

·      τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ (tēn basileian tou Theou)

“the kingdom of God”

·      For what had Simeon, a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem upon whom was the Holy Spirit, been looking?

o  “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ [Messiah]” (Luke 2:25).

§  How does Simeon bless the child Jesus when His father and mother brought Him into the temple to carry out for Him the custom of the Law?

·      “then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ‘Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,  According to Your word; For my eyes have  seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,  A LIGHT  OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,

And the glory of Your people Israel’” (Luke 2:28-32).

§  What does Simeon say to Mary His mother?

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed – and a sword will pierce even your own soul – to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).

·      For Whom does a prophetess, Anna, give thanks to God and to whom does she speak of Jesus?

o  “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of  the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years  and had lived with her husband seven years after her  marriage,  and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.  At that very  moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were  looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).

·      Where does “kingdom of God” appear in the Gospels?

o   Matt. 12:28 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

o   Matt. 19:24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

o   Matt. 21:31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They  said, “The first.” Jesus  said to them, “Truly I say to you that  the tax collectors and prostitutes  will get into the kingdom of God before you.

o   Matt. 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.

o   Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

o   Mark 4:11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,

o   Mark 4:26   And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;

o   Mark 4:30    And He said, “How shall we  picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?

o   Mark 9:1   And Jesus was saying to them, “ Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

o   Mark 9:47 “ If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

o   Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them;  for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

o   Mark 10:23   And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “ How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples  were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and  said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

o   Mark 12:34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

o   Mark 14:25 “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

o   Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was  waiting for the kingdom of God; and he  gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

o   Luke 4:43 But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

o   Luke 6:20   And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “ Blessed are you who are poor, for  yours is the kingdom of God.

o   Luke 7:28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

o   Luke 8:1   Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,

o   Luke 8:10 And He said, “ To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that  SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

o   Luke 9:2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

o   Luke 9:11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

o   Luke 9:27 “But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

o   Luke 9:60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

o   Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “ No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

o   Luke 10:9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘ The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

o   Luke 10:11 ‘ Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that  the kingdom of God has come near.’

o   Luke 11:20 “But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

o   Luke 13:18   So He was saying, “ What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?

o   Luke 13:20   And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?

o   Luke 13:28 “ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29 “And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

o   Luke 14:15   When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “ Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

o   Luke 16:16   “ The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God  has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

o   Luke 17:20   Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with   signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

o   Luke 18:16 But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 “Truly I say to you,  whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

o   Luke 18:24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “ How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “For it is easier for a camel to  go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

o   Luke 18:29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

o   Luke 19:11   While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

o   Luke 21:31 “So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that  the kingdom of God is near.

o   Luke 22:16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

o   Luke 22:18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

o   Luke 23:51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God;

o   John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born  again he cannot see  the kingdom of God.”

o   John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

What does Joseph of Arimathea gather up courage to do?

“…and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate…” (Mark 15:43).

For what does Joseph of Arimathea ask?

“…asked for the body of Jesus” (Mark 15:43).

·      Whose body?

·      “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

·      “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Col 2:9-12).

 

Father,

How astonishing is the truth that our God and King would die for us! The eternal King of glory, God in the flesh, laid down His life as a sin offering and died. Who could have anticipated that You would send Your Beloved Son to reveal Your glory and to redeem Your people at such a costly price to You and to Jesus?

Who could have believed it even if they were told? How many could conceive in their hearts even after seeing with their eyes, hearing with their ears, and perceiving with their minds that the Messiah came to redeem Your people with His own blood?

How tenderly You cared for the body of Your Son through the hands of Joseph of Arimathea. What grief You must have borne!

Glory, glory, glory to You and to Jesus the Messiah!

Blessed is the hope of His appearing! Come, Lord Jesus!

In Jesus’ powerful, blessed Name, Amen.