When evening had already come, since it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Now Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And after learning this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

Although Jesus suffered and died mostly alone, that did not mean His death went without mourning. Joseph of Arimathea, a man of status and means went out of his way to care for the body of Jesus and honor Him in this way. In his pursuit of Jesus and waiting for God to move in the kingdom, Joseph took the next step even though it was confusing and risky.

Joseph took courage instead of responding to Jesus’s crucifixion with hopelessness. Grief often puts a cloud in our minds and makes the way forward unclear and painful. The next step in Joseph’s walk was simply giving what he had to offer and trusting God. Whatever place we find ourselves in, whether we have a place of prominence or feel like we have nothing to offer, we can take the next step in faith and trust God to move. Joseph did not have the full picture of what was happening, and we don’t get a full picture of how God is working either, but we do know He is faithful and near to the broken hearted. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to help us take the next step in faith, even when it is hard.

• What are some of the next steps you need to take your faith? What feels risky or overwhelming about taking that step?
• What does it look like to grieve with hope? Who has exemplified that to you?
• Thank God for His hope. Praise Him for giving His Spirit to be with us and guide us when we don’t know the next step to take.