Joseph of Arimathea – Luke 23:50-56

Wikipedia has a great article on Joseph of Arimathea:

Matthew 27:57 described him simply as a rich man and disciple of Jesus, but according to Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea was “a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God”; and Luke 23:50–56 adds that he “had not consented to their decision and action”.

According to John 19:38, upon hearing of Jesus’ death, this secret disciple of Jesus “asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission.” Joseph immediately purchased a linen shroud (Mark 15:46) and proceeded to Golgotha to take the body of Jesus down from the cross. There, according to John 19:39-40, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body and bound it in linen cloths with the spices that Nicodemus had bought.

The disciples then conveyed the prepared corpse to a man-made cave hewn from rock in a garden of his house nearby. The Gospel of Matthew alone suggests that this was Joseph’s own tomb (Matthew 27:60). The burial was undertaken speedily, “for the Sabbath was drawing on”.

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. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.  (Luke 23:50-56 ESV)

Isaiah 53:9 says of Messiah, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death.”  Messiah would be considered by Israel to be a criminal suffering for his own sin, but in reality it was for our transgressions he was smitten.  And yet in his burial he would also be honored by a rich man.  Joseph of Arimathea becomes a part of this fulfillment.

As a member of the council that condemned Jesus, though he himself did not consent to their wickedness (he probably was not at the illegal trial), he was taking a real chance of losing his position and respect in his community by burying Jesus in his own tomb.  It was Friday, but the evening brought the new day, the Sabbath, or Saturday.  The women who were going to come after the Sabbath, on Sunday, to add spices and ointments to the body before it was too decayed, watched to see where Jesus was buried.

It seemed like the darkest hour.  But look at the way Joseph honored his rabbi.  No doubt he was in despair, but he did not give up on life.  He did the very menial, yet important, thing, burying Jesus.  Was his faith in God crushed?  Perhaps.  Yet he did not give in to hopelessness.  He did what was right and he kept God’s commands, observing the Sabbath.  His faithfulness would be rewarded.