Reference Passage:
Mark 15:42 - 43 (NKJV)
Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
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We’re living in a time when
the words ‘politics’ and ‘politician’ are mostly used in a derogatory sense.
From the United Nations to the ordinary business office, politics is commonly
associated with selfish opportunism. Quite contrary to the status quo, the
Biblical reference to a prominent politician called Joseph of Arimathea, is a
refreshing account of how politicians can make a difference by faith.
What set Joseph apart from
other public servants of his time was his expectation of the coming Kingdom of
God. Once handed power, it is so easy to forget that all forms of human
government must be ultimately superseded by the rule of the King of kings. Such
amnesia is found even within church hierarchies. We often behave as if our
tenure will never end. To keep ourselves “in the picture”, we depend endlessly
on the mechanisms of democratic people power. Hence, a Divine call to service
and our empowerment by God’s grace are no longer considered priorities, as long
as the votes add up to a majority.
Among the primary motivators
for the Crucifixion of Christ was, as discerned Pontius Pilate, the
self-interest of the religious polity in keeping power. In life such people
feel threatened by the knowledge of Christ’s Lordship. In spite of grabbing
authority with both hands, it is remarkable that they fail to produce the
fruits of power, namely victory and peace. Humans might achieve victory without
peace, or peace without victory. Only the King of kings ordained from above is
able to bring both simultaneously into our daily experience.
This eager anticipation
blossomed in many hearts during the precious few years of the Lord’s ministry.
However, in the gloomy aftermath of the Crucifixion, the memories of
spectacular miracles and powerful preaching lost their shine. Wasn’t it easy to
conclude that the sufferings of the Cross were a failure on Jesus’ part? Hardly
anybody understood that Christ’s kingdom was a different matter altogether.
On the other hand, Joseph’s
convictions didn’t take a beating. For some time, Joseph had been among the
secret admirers of Christ. But the time had come to make his stand public even
though it probably meant losing popularity at the Council.
What would it feel like to be
seen dragging down and ministering to a dead ‘criminal’ especially when you are
a familiar face in local politics? Joseph was not overly bothered. It is surprising to think that such a man
would tenderly take down that battered, bloodied body bearing the marks of
virulent human hatred, and sacrificially open up his own tomb for the burial.
Quite unheard of these days, isn’t it?
Time was not on Joseph’s side
either. It was Sabbath the next day. The barbaric attitude of the soldiers
looks least likely to have afforded an act of kindness to a criminal’s remains
– it was nature’s bother to do the rest. Historians think that this is probably
why few remains of crucified criminals have ever been discovered by
archaeological studies. Had it been me, I would have acted next week because
today is Friday and tomorrow is the weekend! Going home early on the last
weekday is so important!
But Joseph acted in right
time before nature did, which was why the body of Christ received a decent
burial.
Hence unveils a new dimension
to the Lord’s Prayer that deserves our attention. As Christians worldwide chant
“Thy kingdom come”, what do they mean? Have we only a faint hope of Heaven that
flees the moment Science declares God is dead? Since God is presumed dead or
irrelevant, we are now happily on the throne. Being kings to ourselves, victory
and peace elude our personal beings, and our spirituality and practical life
bear no relation to each other.
Joseph’s example demonstrates
that genuine faith grows in glow under fire. Hope that strengthens into belief
spurs the believer into action. Christ the King desires nothing less than the
throne of our hearts. In praying for God’s Kingdom to appear, we are also
called to make way for the King in our daily lives, and act with conviction
upon His orders. Lets not pass up any preciously scarce opportunity to serve this great King.
As proved Resurrection Sunday, Jesus Christ the
King of hearts, never fails those who wait for Him.
