“Look at the worst our world can give and do not be overcome.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 23, 2026
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Mark 15:43, ESV
Joseph of Arimathea is one of my favorite figures in the New Testament. Though often overlooked or seen as a “minor player” in the story of salvation, he is for me a picture of an allegiance to Christ that grows and matures over time, which is something I hope and pray to be true for myself and anyone reading these words!
In John 19 we are told that he “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38). Yet out of love for Christ and a desire to honor him in his hour of death, in that moment his courage grows and he asks for permission to take the body of Jesus and lay it in a new tomb. What, we may ask, was the source of this newfound courage? Of course, it is the Holy Spirit animating and filling him, yet I love the phrase we find in Mark 15:43, where Joseph takes courage as one who was “looking for the kingdom of God.”
Joseph longed to see the world put right, for heaven to come to earth, and was actively and intentionally seeking signs of this heavenly power at work in his world. Thus, when Jesus came, he didn’t miss the moment. He was looking for the kingdom and found the kingdom in Christ. When we see Jesus as he truly is, we become courageous people. We know that because Christ is with us, nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even death (Romans 8:38). And so, Joseph saw his slain Lord and was filled with courage.
I long to look at the worst our world gives us and not be overcome, to know that even death itself is not to be feared, for it has been defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection. I pray that the little seeds of faith that have been planted in our hearts will grow and blossom over time, that like Joseph, we will take courage in times of great need, and continually look for signs of the kingdom all around us.
Prayer
Father, may we, like Joseph, look for the kingdom that is breaking in all around us, we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
How can you look for signs of God’s work in your life today with anticipation and hope?
Related Reading
Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 4:18; Matthew 6:33
Worship Resource
Hillsong Worship: O Praise The Name (Anástasis)
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