Mark 15:42-16:8
Dear RTB’ers,
And when evening had come … Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (vv. 42-43) “…took courage”. The NASB says “…gathered up courage…”. Both Matthew and Luke also report on Joseph of Arimathea asking for Jesus’ body, but Mark is the only one who speaks of the courage that it took for Joseph to approach Pilate. As a prominent member of the Council he had seen what the Jewish leaders and their rabble had already done to Jesus; he must have wondered what might happen to Jesus’ followers. It took courage for him to go forward, especially in view of the fact that he was a secret follower: Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. (John 19:38b)
I have long admired Joseph of Arimathea. It’s worth mentioning Nicodemus here also. An online source has an excellent article covering both of these men, “What We Get Wrong about Nicodemus and Joseph: Often chided by readers of Scripture for hiding their faith, they showed more courage than you realize.” Here is a sampling of the content of the article:
Joseph of Arimathea shows up in every gospel account of Jesus’ death. He is described by Matthew as a “rich man” and a “disciple of Jesus” (Matt. 27:57–60). Mark describes him as a “prominent member” of the Sanhedrin and someone who was “waiting for the kingdom of God” (Mark 15:42–46). Luke calls Joseph “a good and upright man,” a “member of the Council” who didn’t agree with their decision to seek Jesus’ death (Luke 23:50–51). John calls him a “disciple of Jesus” who kept his faith secret due to fear of his fellow religious leaders (John 19:38).
https://dandarling.substack.com/p/what-we-get-wrong-about-nicodemus
It would be a delightful read for you this Sunday morning!
Blessings!
See also: