Faith is the Habit of Looking to God
Mark 15:39-47
"Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also
waited for the
There were certain people who followed Jesus to
the grave. They had the privilege of
seeing what happened to Him right up to the end. They were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of
James and Joses, and Salome. They loved Jesus and were devoted to
Him. I think the mother of Jesus would
have been taken home away from the scene by that time. It was too much for her to see her son whose
coming was announced by angels - her wonderful son, to die a criminal's
death. Joseph of Arimathaea
was bold to go to Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus. He was clear of the blood of Jesus. He did not agree with the decision of the
Sanhedrin. Very few people could have
done what Joseph did. Pilate was
surprised Jesus was so soon dead. The
Centurion who was stationed at the Cross handed over the body to Joseph of Arimathaea. Joseph
bought a long piece of fine linen cloth.
It must have been very costly.
Nicodemus also came bringing a hundred pound
weight of spices, to keep the body from putrefying. They did not know what great service they
were rendering. It was their darkest
hour. The sun which gave them light till
now was suddenly darkened. In their
darkest hour they did not forget their duty to Jesus.
Faith is the habit of looking to God. When the subconscious is relieved of all sin,
we get to the place where we always think hopefully - even under the worst
circumstances. This is only possible for
Christians. This was their darkest hour,
yet Joseph and these women had some kind of hope. It was the darkest hour for the disciples
too. They were all sitting together in a
room. Their darkest hour had come. Their hopes were shattered. It is wonderful how they faced and came through
that hour. Those who know Jesus develop
the capacity to stand with hope in the darkest hours of their lives. To know Jesus and to know Him as the Lord of
life is the greatest thing.