Wealth and the Kingdom Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Wealth and the Kingdom Keywords: "kingdom” “rich” “wealth" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Mark 15:42-47* 42. And when evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43. Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44. And Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. 45. And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46. And [Joseph] bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the [mother] of Joses were looking on [to see] where He was laid. Question What sort of person do you imagine Joseph of Arimathea being?   Practical help Jesus was dead. The centurion testified to the fact. And who better to know death than a Roman soldier whose job it was to crucify criminals on a routine basis? To give up Jesus’s body to the Roman detail who would simply discard it as rubbish must have pricked something inside Joseph of Arimathea. For some reason there was a connection between Jesus and this particular wealthy Jewish leader. Perhaps Joseph had been personally healed. Perhaps there was a time when he heard Jesus speak and his heart was strangely stirred. We do know this from reading today’s passage, Joseph was waiting for the kingdom of God. And based on what he did to obtain the body of Christ, you might even say he was willing to risk everything he owned in a quest to find God. But, what exactly does this mean — waiting for the kingdom of God? If you do a search on this phrase, you will find that Jesus spoke about it often. One interesting account is found in Mark 10:17-27. This is the story of the rich young ruler who comes to Jesus and asks him what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to go and sell all he has and give it to the poor and then come follow him. The young man turns and leaves. Here is how the story ends: 23. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" 24. And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26. And they were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" 27. Looking upon them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." So what is the lesson for you and me today? To follow Jesus and find the kingdom of God requires us to put everything else aside as being secondary and firmly trust that there is no life except in him. The kingdom of God is built on this foundation: Jesus has conquered death and has opened up the way for us all to enter the kingdom of God. So let's not rely on anything (including sexual pleasure or appetite) to meet our needs outside of his will and grace. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2004 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---