Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

A Councillor Who Asked for the Body of Jesus

A councillor of Arimathæa, looking for the kingdom of God and a disciple of Jesus, though secretly for fear of the Jews, who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and laid it in his own new tomb.

All four Gospels name Joseph, and all four place him in one scene: he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus (Matthew 27:58; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:52; John 19:38). Mark 15:43 calls him “a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God” (Mark 15:43), and says that “he boldly went in unto Pilate” (Mark 15:43). The Gospel of Luke adds that he was “a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their counsel and deed)” (Luke 23:50–51).

The Gospel of Matthew calls him “a rich man from Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple” (Matthew 27:57); the Gospel of John says he was “a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38).

He took the body down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb hewn in the rock; according to the Gospel of Matthew it was “his own new tomb” (Matthew 27:60). John adds that Nicodemus came also with spices (John 19:39–40). The text says nothing of Joseph before or after these verses.

Strengths

• Boldness
• Care for the body of Jesus
• Standing apart from the council

Weaknesses

• Secret discipleship from fear

Themes

• Burial of Jesus
• Looking for the kingdom of God
• Boldness and fear
• A new tomb

He asks Pilate for the body (Mark 15:42–43; Matthew 27:57–58; Luke 23:50–52; John 19:38)

On the day of the Preparation, with evening come, Joseph goes boldly to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus.

He asks Pilate for the body

“And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came Joseph of Arimathæa, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus” (Mark 15:42–43).

“And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph” (Mark 15:44–45). In the Gospel of John, “Pilate gave him leave” (John 19:38).

He lays Jesus in the tomb (Mark 15:46; Matthew 27:59–60; Luke 23:53; John 19:41–42)

Joseph takes the body down, wraps it in linen, lays it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, and rolls a stone to the door.

He lays Jesus in the tomb

“And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed” (Matthew 27:59–60).

The Gospel of Luke describes it as “a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain” (Luke 23:53), and the Gospel of John says that “in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid” (John 19:41). “There then because of the Jews’ Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus” (John 19:42).

Nicodemus comes with spices (John 19:39–40)

In the Gospel of John, Nicodemus brings myrrh and aloes, and they bind the body in linen cloths with the spices.

The women see where he is laid (Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55–56; Matthew 27:61)

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and the women who came out of Galilee, see the tomb and how the body is laid.

Jesus (Matthew 27:57; John 19:38)

The Gospels of Matthew and John call Joseph a disciple of Jesus; he buried his body.

Pilate (Mark 15:43–45; John 19:38)

Joseph asked him for the body of Jesus; Pilate granted it.

Nicodemus (John 19:39–40)

Came also with myrrh and aloes; together they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths.

The council (Luke 23:50–51; Mark 15:43)

Joseph was a councillor but had not consented to their counsel and deed.

Major sections

• Matthew 27:57–61
• Mark 15:42–47
• Luke 23:50–56
• John 19:38–42

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