57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.Who would you have expected to bury Jesus?
There are a lot of options, because there were a lot of people who were close to Jesus. Maybe one of Jesus' "Inner Three" (Peter, John, or James) could have stepped up and made sure that Jesus received a proper burial. Or maybe one of the other disciples among the Twelve. What about Jesus' friend Lazarus? He has a tomb that's not being used anymore.
The problem is that most of these people are nowhere to be found when Jesus is crucified. We learn from John's gospel that John is there, and a few women, but that's about it among Jesus' followers. Everyone else deserted him and fled when he was arrested in Gethsemane, as we saw in Matthew 26:56.
The man who does end up burying Jesus is kind of a surprise. He's a dark horse. We read that a rich man named Joseph goes to Pilate, asks for Jesus' body, wraps it in burial clothes, and places it in a tomb. Who is this guy?
We really don't know a whole lot about Joseph. From this passage in Matthew, all we know is that he was wealthy, he was from Arimathea, and he was a disciple of Jesus. However, when Luke's gospel tells the story, it points out that Joseph was a member of the council, meaning a member of the Sanhedrin (Lk. 23:50). Joseph is a member of the group that had arrested Jesus, put him on trial, and taken him to Pilate, demanding for his execution. However, Luke also tells us that Joseph didn't agree with their decision. It might be that he was a dissenting voice that was simply ignored, or maybe he wasn't even informed of the late-night trial.
In any case, it is a dangerous thing to be a Sanhedrin-member that stands up for Jesus. That's why the Twelve had fled--out of fear. Joseph certainly has a lot to lose in coming out into the open as a Jesus-follower. He can lose his position in the Sanhedrin, he can lose his wealth. He may even risk his own safety. And yet, even though those who were closest to Jesus had fled, Joseph boldly goes to Pilate and offers to bury Jesus. He's not hiding in the shadows. He's not cowering in fear from the rest of the Sanhedrin. He's following Christ.
Being bold for Jesus can be a scary thing. It can be risky to be open about your faith. It could mean losing a friend, being looked over for a promotion at work, becoming estranged from your family. You might have a lot to lose for standing up for Jesus. But don't let that hold you back. Follow the example of Joseph, and follow Jesus regardless of the risk. The reward is certainly worth it.
David Heffren
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