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Joseph of Arimathea is not a completely “unsung” hero of the Bible. He is respected by Christians, and is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. In the West his feast day is – today - March 17! It is July 31 in the East.
All four gospel stories tell us that Joseph of Arimathea is the one who donated his personal tomb for the burial of Jesus after the crucifixion.
Matthew describes Joseph as a rich man (Matthew 27:57). This is further demonstrated by the fact that he had his own tomb. Note that he also had enough social standing to get a hearing with Pilate, the Roman procurator. Matthew 27:57 and Luke 23:50. He was from the town of Arimathea. The location of this town is not known for certain.
Luke and Mark tell us that Joseph was a member of the council. Mark says he was a respected member. Luke adds the detail that he had not agreed to the council’s plan and behavior regarding Jesus. Luke further notes that he was good and righteous, a man waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. Matthew tells us that Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. John also states this, but says his discipleship was in secret. But at the time of Jesus’ death, the gospel story tells us that he went boldly to Pilate so he could request the body of Jesus. The Catholic Encyclopedia presents the believable scenario that Joseph’s faith and love were “quickened” by the crucifixion, along with the courage of Nicodemus.
Some commentators have wanted to suggest that Joseph was only concerned about ritual purity, i.e. leaving the body unburied over the Sabbath. Since, however, he did not show the same interest in the bodies of the two thieves, and as he laid the body of Jesus in his own tomb, it is hard to support any supposition except that Joseph was paying an individual and heartfelt respect for Jesus himself. One scholar says that in a sense, Joseph was bringing Jesus into his own family.
Once Pilate was satisfied that Jesus was indeed dead, he gave permission. Joseph purchased fine linens, according to Mark, and went to Golgotha to bring Jesus down from the cross. Nicodemus, another somewhat secret follower of Jesus, assisted him. They applied myrrh and aloes to the body. The tomb was new and had never been used (and wouldn’t be used long this time, as it turned out!). It had been cut out of rock.
Some scholars believe that it could have been Joseph who provided the details of Jesus’ trial and other deliberations of the council. If so, it would appear that he was modest and did not over-burden the account with the story of his own protests.
It seem significant also that Joseph, though wealthy, did not send others to take care of Jesus’ body. He took care of it himself.
During the middle ages, Joseph became connected by Arthurian legends to the Holy Grail and to Britain. The manuscripts from earlier centuries do not attribute the conversion of Britain too him, but later Arthurian works say he traveled to Britain and became the first Christian bishop there.
The Gospel of Nicodemus, which is appended to the “Acts of Pilate” gives non-scriptural additions to the story. In it, the members of the council were angry at Joseph for burying the body of Jesus. He in turn was angry with them because they had not repented for what they had done. Then they imprisoned him, whereupon he had a vision of Jesus appearing to him. Other legends, in addition to the Grail and the earlier conversion of Britain, include Joseph setting his walking stick on the ground as he slept. It miraculously took root, leafed out and blossomed as the “Glastonbury thorn.” The same story is told of the Anglo-Saxon saint Etheldreda. Another legend claims that Joseph was Jesus’ mother’s uncle. That he was a tin merchant (connected with Britain because of its tin mines), that he had taken Jesus to Britain as a boy, etc.
These, again, are all legends that collected around the person of Joseph of Arimathea. The gospel stories are honor enough.
In what ways can we follow in Joseph of Arimathea’s footsteps?
Joseph of Arimathea showed courage in going to Pilate. What aspects of Christian living require our courage today?
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