Mar 15:43 | NET2full | STEP | Joseph of Arimathea , a highly regarded member of the council , who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God , went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus .

Mark 15:43

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, ^{▼▼tn Grk “a councillor” (as a member of the Sanhedrin, see L&N 11.85). This indicates that some individuals among the leaders did respond to Jesus.} who was himself looking forward to ^{▼▼tn Or “waiting for.”} ^{▼▼sn Though some dispute that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, this remark that he was looking forward to the kingdom of God and his actions regarding Jesus’ burial suggest otherwise.} the kingdom of God, ^{▼▼sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself.} went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ^{▼▼sn Asking for the body of Jesus was indeed a bold move on the part of Joseph of Arimathea, for it clearly and openly identified him with a man who had just been condemned and executed, namely, Jesus. His faith is exemplary, especially for someone who was a member of the council that handed Jesus over for crucifixion (cf. Luke 23:51). He did this because he sought to give Jesus an honorable burial.}