Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Luke 23:50 – 54

As we examine the way the Jewish elders treated Jesus, we might think that no one among them believed that Jesus is God’s Messiah.  Hold on.  A man named Joseph appears, a member of that Council that hated Jesus.  He was waiting for the coming of the kingdom of God.  His wait was over, Jesus appeared.  He could not just stand back when Jesus was killed on that Cross.  He rushed in to help Jesus, now dead.

I tend to bundle people into groups.  In this case, the Council.  They rejected Jesus vehemently.  So, I raise my eyebrows when I realize that at least one of the Jewish Council members believes in Jesus.  Not only that, but he was from Judah, the heartland of those who rejected Jesus.

Even when the vast majority hate Jesus with real hate, here is a Judean who loves Jesus and follows Him in spite of what his colleagues might believe.  Why am I surprised by that?  I should be open to the fact that people in every culture and nation, any time, find Jesus to be the One they knew who is to come, God’s Messiah.  They believe just like I do!

As I write this, people are embracing Jesus as their Lord all over the world, in cultures that I tend to neglect altogether.  They love Jesus like I do.  That is a huge, huge new thing on the earth.  It disregards culture and looks only on Jesus!  All who love Jesus are in the new Kingdom of God, like Joseph.  Can I comprehend that?  With eternal thanks and huge gratitude, I recognize that is the way God works.  I rejoice in that and love him dearly for it.  May it punctuate my thoughts this Easter season.