"Then a man named Joseph, a member of the Jewish Supreme Court, from the city of Arimathea in Judea, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He was a godly man who had been expecting the Messiah's coming and had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other Jewish leaders. So he took down Jesus' body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth and laid it in a new, unused tomb hewn into the rock."
Luke 23: 50-53
He was a member of the Sanhedrin but did not collaborate in the condemnation of Jesus. The Bible describes Joseph of Arimathea as a good and upright man who was waiting for the kingdom of God. His name goes down in history for his loving kindness shown to Jesus after his death. I wonder how many bitter tears he wept as he worked over the body? Just the act of taking it down from the blood-stained cross would be heart wrenching, but knowing your Jewish Council had brought this about must've caused waves of shame and remorse. As a man who waited for the kingdom of God, perhaps he wondered at God's plan. How could it end this way, with a criminal's death? What was God thinking?
Imagine Joseph's joy on Resurrection Day when he was told, "The stone's been rolled away! The grave clothes are folded to the side; the body you cleansed and wrapped is not there!"
My Father, teach me to have the faith of Joseph; to be looking for your second coming every day, doing your work in the mean time, even if it is in conflict with those around me, so that I may share in your Easter joy.
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