Chewing on my readings this morning and the thought came that a lesser-known guy in the anti-climactic part of the crucifixion story is deserving of an exhibit in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith.” How come? Because he did what he did because he was looking for a kingdom.

Went back through my journal to see if this was a first-time thought. Apparently not. Here’s how it came out 14 years ago.

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It was a pretty bold move. Bold because it required him to go directly to Pilate . . . bold because he had already been a dissenting voice on the decision and the subsequent determination . . . bold because he was taking a stand that, if discovered, would not be popular.

And, as I read the brief account by Luke of Joseph’s bold move, a phrase captures my attention . . . a phrase which I think indicates he was a man of faith . . . a phrase which I think demonstrates that he was Hebrews 11 material.

“Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man 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.”

(Luke 23:50-53 ESV)

Joseph, it would seem, had believed Jesus could be the promised Messiah — the promised King. And so, he was looking for the kingdom of God. And even though he couldn’t make any sense of what had just happened on the cross, he was compelled to boldly step out and honor Jesus in the way available to him. What a dead Messiah had to do with the kingdom of God was probably a bit beyond him, yet he acted.

Talk about faith! Talk about my nomination to induct Joseph as an honorary member of the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith.” Tell me he didn’t have the same qualifications . . .

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.”

(Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)

There is something about believing that this world is not the final answer . . . that beyond this time and space there is a kingdom . . . a city prepared by God . . . a better country to be part of . . . a heavenly citizenship to embrace. And, it seems, when that clicks, the fire of faith is fueled and bold acts follow. And that’s the stuff of the examples listed in Hebrews 11 . . . great men and women of faith . . . possessing not just a believing faith but also a bold, take action faith.

Faith doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll fully understand the whys . . . doesn’t necessarily mean that “we’ll win” . . . doesn’t necessarily promise a happy ending (this side of heaven). But when, through Spirit of God and by the grace of God, we become wired to look for the kingdom . . . to seek the homeland . . . to desire a better country . . . then, I’m thinking, it affects our the decisions we make and the actions we take here and now.

It sure did with Joseph. It would have been the simplest and least risky thing just to walk away with the rest of the crowd after the execution. Or, at the very least, have “stood at a distance” with the other followers of Jesus (24:49).

But no. Instead — though he didn’t make a big show of it (John 19:38) — he took a step forward from the rest of the line . . . a courageous step forward. Compelled to honor this Jesus in whom he had come to believe, he boldly asked for His body. And then he buried it in a tomb that others would know was his tomb. Because he looked for a kingdom.

And so, this morning Joseph of Arimathea gets my nomination to be inducted into the “Hall of Faith” . . .

By faith, Joseph honored Jesus
— even though the Christ had been crucified —
because he looked for a kingdom,
the kingdom of God.

Only by God’s grace. Only for God’sglory.