Luke 23:44-56
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” j When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. [1]
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Thinking about Joseph of Arimithea today. He is one of those biblical characters that I would sure like to know more about. We see him here at the burial of Jesus, but nowhere else. But the little we do have tells us some interesting things. Apparently the condemnation of Jesus by the Sanhedrin was not unanimous. Joseph was against it. Whether that was because of faith in Jesus or opposition to the illegal character of the trial we don’t know. Was Joseph’s opposition vocal, or did he merely abstain from the vote?
Regardless of how loudly he protested during the trial, what he does after Jesus’ death speaks quite loudly. As a convicted criminal, Jesus body should have been thrown in a mass grave for criminals. But Joseph intervenes, gains an audience with Pilate (which says something regarding how prominent a citizen Joseph must have been), and convinces Pilate to give him access to the body. By giving Jesus a burial in his own family tomb, Joseph was inviting dishonor on his family. Criminals don’t deserve this kind of burial, especially blasphemers. Joseph couldn’t have voiced any louder that he supported Jesus and did not consider Him a blasphemer.
I wonder what the rest of the council thought of Joseph? Did he become a persona non grata? Kicked off the council? It’s fascinating to me that this man showed more courage and conviction than any of the disciples (who were hiding behind a locked door)
So I’m thinking about Joseph and the boldness of his witness. One of the biggest inhibiters to our witness is fear of rejection, being thought weird, a Jesus freak, a religious wacko. It seems to be growing fundamental value in our culture not to talk about Jesus, and above not to encourage others to consider the faith. There can be consequences in the workplace, family, neighborhood, etc.
Joseph didn’t care. When it came time to bury the body of Jesus to took a bold move, which surely had enormous social and professional consequences for him.
So my prayer is for boldness in witness. Not to be afraid. (Of course, not to be an obnoxious jerk either!) To seize opportunities to identify with Jesus. To follow the example of Joseph, as a bold witness by deed of my Lord.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Lk 23:50–56). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
