Joseph of Arimathea: Everything Jesus Possesses He Changes
FOCUS TEXT: Luke 23:50-24:
Sunday we focused on a character in the resurrection story found in all four Gospels: Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph grew up in a small Jewish town surrounded by people who had replaced faith in God with strict adherence to the OT law. Joseph went all in based on what he knew of God and in time became a wealthy and influential religious leader and member of the Sanhedrin, a group who governed Israel. But what made him unique among his peers is that he was “looking for the Kingdom of God” (vs. 51).
Imagine the hindrances Joseph had to navigate through to seek God’s kingdom and to embrace Jesus as King! 1) He had to navigate through his rule-following religion to come to Jesus. 2) He had to navigate through his wealth and power to come to Jesus. 3) He had to navigate through his culture and identity to come to Jesus. Seeking the Kingdom of God can be an incredibly difficult road to walk, but encountering the life-changing power of Jesus is worth every challenge you’ll face in seeking the Kingdom of God.
Once Joseph placed his faith in Jesus his life radically changed. The Gospel of John tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was afraid. But once Joseph witnesses the death of Jesus he became fearless. Luke 23:52-53 tell us that he “went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid Him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.” This was a bold and fearless move because it was public. Joseph also demonstrated radical love for Jesus by removing the nails, removing the body of Jesus from the cross, removing the crown of thorns, carefully wrapping the bloody and naked body of Jesus in linen, and carrying the body through the streets to his own family tomb.
Everything God possesses he changes and uses powerfully. Just in the Gospel of Luke Jesus possessed a womb, a boat, a donkey, a room, and a borrowed tomb. And every time He took possession He poured out His power. God came to possess Joseph’s heart and this man was radically changed, becoming a fearless and loving instrument of God. The truth is that everyone who seeks the Kingdom encounters Jesus. And everyone who encounters Jesus is changed. And everyone who is changed is empowered by the Holy Spirit to build God’s Kingdom.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
What hindrances do you face in seeking first the Kingdom of God?
Have you encountered Jesus? How have your encounters with Jesus changed you?
In what ways is God using you to build His Kingdom? What might be your next step?
PRAYER FOCUS
Take time to commit to the Lord to seek His kingdom daily and reorient your life around the work of His kingdom. Ask God to transform your life as you seek to walk with Jesus. Ask the Lord to empower you to more deeply engage in the work of building the Kingdom of God.
MEMORY VERSES: Luke 24:6-7
