Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31"
Day 338 – Mark 15
“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31
WAITING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
It is interesting that Mark should use this phrase “who was himself waiting for kingdom of God” to describe Joseph of Arimathea. This doctrine had so many varying forms. Let us consider the following:-
1. General understanding
It may be said that Israel, as a nation, had long been waiting for the kingdom of God to appear.
a) This belief may well be traced to the prophetic Scriptures.
b) Many prophets preached that God would send Israel a Messiah.
c) He would establish the kingdom of God (Cf. Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel).
d) The general populace liked the idea of the kingdom of God. They wanted to force Jesus to be their king (Cf. John 6).
2. Variations
a) The Zealots
They proclaimed a message of active resistance against the Romans while waiting for the kingdom of God. They believed in a physical, political kingdom rather than a spiritual one.
b) The Herodians
They too believed in a kingdom of sorts. They were more concerned about the present political kingdom than an eternal one.
c) The Sadducees
They did not espouse a theology involving the next life. Their focus was life on this earth.
d) The Pharisees
They were a mixed bag. There were some like Nicodemus who sought more knowledge of the kingdom of God (Cf. John 3). But there were others who violently sought to put to death, the Lord Jesus!
3. The True concept of the Kingdom of God
Jesus preached this! Joseph of Arimathea was one of the few who understood!