The Jesus Mark Wants You to Know - 28 Days to Become More Intimate With JesusEsimerkki

Day 27 - Mark 15:42-47

Keep Hoping

After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and asked Pilate for His body. Then he and Nicodemus took the body down, prepared it with spices and buried Jesus in one of their tombs.

Joseph was a “secret” disciple of Jesus and "waiting for the Kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus sought out Jesus in the dark of night and in secret to talk about the Kingdom of God. Both of these men were high-ranking religious leaders and members of the Sanhedrin, the ruling Council in Jerusalem. They were deeply embedded in the religious system but had open, hungry hearts seeking after God.

They were willing to take risks in opposition to their peers. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah but having to bury His dead body likely dashed their hopes--until the resurrection! Did they believe the rumors? Surely, their faith was tested.

Am I willing to take risks, to live in anticipation of the coming Kingdom and to have the faith needed to keep believing?