When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 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.
- Matthew 27:57-60 (esv)
This story takes place just a few hours after Jesus’ death on the cross, which was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon on a Friday.
Pilate was a Roman and the governor of Judea and Roman prefect under the Emperor Tiberius. During this time, the Romans kept the death penalty under their jurisdiction. Thus, he was a very powerful man.
Not all stories are recorded in all four gospels; interestingly and uniquely, this one is. The fact that it is recorded in all four gospels highlights the significance of Joseph’s actions. The parallel accounts of this scene shed additional light to the character and profession of Joseph.
Luke (ch 23) states that he was a good and righteous man. Professionally we learn that Joseph of Arimathea was a respected member of the Jewish Sanhedrin Council (Mark 15). The Sanhedrin functioned as a Jewish judicial body and played a rather large role in the [false] accusations, [unjust] prosecution, and subsequent execution of Jesus. Despite Joseph being a part of this elite group, he was different. He did not approve or consent of their actions against Jesus for he was looking for the kingdom of God (Luke 23).
We learn from Matthew’s gospel, as well as parallel accounts in the other gospels, that Jesus was crucified and died on the day of preparation. According to Jewish customs, a crucified body had to be taken down before the Sabbath, which began at sundown on Friday. So Joseph, who honored and obeyed the ways of the Lord and therefore Jewish customs, had a deep conviction that Jesus’ body was worthy of a proper Jewish burial. And if Jesus was to get one, he needed to act with urgency.
So with haste, he went to Pilate to make a request. But let’s not overlook the fact that not just anyone could gain access to Pilate and be in his presence. One had to have status. One had to have position. One’s name mattered. I imagine that there was a chain of personnel he had to go through first to get in the presence of this high official. And Joseph, understanding that being a part of this elite Jewish council gave him a name, a position, a status – one that he could use to get access to presumably the most powerful man in that region.
In the presence of Pilate – the very man who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion and had authority over whether or not a dead body could be buried – Joseph boldly requested the dead body of Jesus. This took courage (Mark 15). He could have been rejected and sent away. He could have been scoffed at. He could have gotten himself into trouble for identifying as a follower of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea acted with urgency and boldness. But what undergirded these actions? Faith. Faith that God would grant him the access he needed, the courage he required (Is 41:10), and the very words to say. Faith that God would move Pilate’s heart to give him the body of his Lord Jesus (Pro 21:1).
Sometimes we read a passage like this and we don’t think it’s very relatable. After all, he was making a request for the body of Jesus! There will certainly be times when the Lord will require you to act with the urgency and boldness of Joseph in very tough, frightening situations. And in His unmatched kindness to you, He will strengthen you and give you the faith you so desperately need when you are weak (2 Cor 12:19).
But more often than not, God wants us to act with urgency and boldness in our everyday, seemingly insignificant, little moments.
Recognize that like Joseph, God in His sovereignty, has granted you a special, intentional position in your life. Perhaps you are the Parent-Teacher Organization head or teacher’s aid at your child’s school. Maybe you are the CEO or CTO of your company. Perhaps you are a mother who cares for littles or a daughter who is caring for aging parents. Maybe you are an inmate or cellmate. Perhaps you are a competitive athlete or a fellow classmate.
There will be times when you will feel the quickening of the Spirit to be bold in sharing your affections for Jesus or deeply held convictions. And naturally, like Joseph you may fear that identifying with Jesus will bring rejection, being scoffed at, and trouble for identifying as His follower. And there will be times when that fear will materialize. But let faith under-gird you. God is always faithful to grant you His moment by moment grace you need to respond with strength and courage when you lack it, the words to say when you don’t have them, and the access you need.
Reflect:
- What position or space does God have you in currently? In what ways do you feel the Spirit calling you to action whether in urgency or boldness in that particular space or position?
- What is hardest for you? To have a sense of urgency? To possess boldness/courage? Or to have faith? Take time to identify why that is.
- In what ways, past or present, have you experienced the Lord’s strength to give you the faith you needed in hard, trying times?