Who was Joseph of Arimathea in the Bible?
The life and actions of Joseph of Arimathea in the Bible can encourage and inspire all believers to view their possessions in light of the Christian faith. Learn about his role in the story of Christ's crucifixion and burial and his significance for Christians today!
Who was Joseph of Arimathea?
Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned in all four Gospels of the New Testament. He is portrayed as a wealthy and esteemed member of the Jewish council, believed to be the Sanhedrin, the highest religious court in ancient Judaism. Despite the risks involved and his elevated status, Joseph is most noteworthy for his courageous act of requesting the body of Jesus Christ from Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, after the crucifixion.
According to the biblical accounts, Joseph provided his own new tomb, which he had cut out of rock, for Jesus' burial. This tomb was located in a garden near the site of the Crucifixion. Joseph, along with Nicodemus, another member of the Jewish council who sought Jesus at night to inquire about His teachings, took Jesus' body down from the cross. They wrapped it in a clean linen shroud with spices, as was the Jewish custom for burial, and laid it in the tomb. The Gospels describe this act as being done in haste, as the Sabbath was about to begin.
Joseph of Arimathea's actions hold great significance for several reasons. Firstly, his request to Pilate and providing the tomb are considered acts of courage and respect towards Jesus. It defied the Jewish authorities who had condemned Jesus. Secondly, his actions fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, which foretells that the Messiah would be buried with the rich. Lastly, the empty tomb, which was securely sealed and guarded, becomes the central evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. It was found empty on the third day by women who came to anoint Jesus' body.
Joseph of Arimathea in the Bible
Here are the key Bible passages that reference Joseph of Arimathea:
Mark 15:43-47: “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. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.”
Matthew 27:57: “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.”
Luke 23:50-53: “Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.”
John 19:38-42: “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.”
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What Role Did Joseph of Arimathea Have in Jesus' Story?
From these passages, we learn several things about Joseph. He is a good man who is a wealthy and respected member of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council) who had been seeking God and had become a disciple of Jesus, though not publicly because he was “afraid of the Jews” (John 19:38). But after the death of Jesus, Joseph went courageously before Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body, thereby identifying publicly with him. When his request was granted, he prepared it for burial with Nicodemus—another member of the Sanhedrin who had previously struggled with fear of following Jesus publicly, evidenced by his coming to Jesus by night in John 3:1-21—as well as Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses.
Many believe that Jesus, when he was buried in Joseph’s tomb, fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9: “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”
Joseph owned a tomb that had been recently prepared by being cut out of a rock, and together, they laid the body of Jesus there, rolling a huge stone across the entrance. On the third day after doing this, the women came back to the tomb to find the stone rolled away and angels declaring Jesus’ resurrection. This is what Christians celebrate during the holiday of Easter (Mark 16, Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20).
Why Is His Action Significant?
The timing of Jesus’ crucifixion necessitated urgency for the disciples seeking to bury him. When he died, it was almost the Sabbath and almost the Passover (the holiday remembering when God passed over the houses of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt, which had their doorways marked with blood, sparing their firstborn sons). This meant that work needed to cease very soon. Joseph used his influence with the authorities (specifically Pilate), his possession (the tomb), and his newfound courage in identifying as a disciple of Jesus to make quick-thinking decisions in order to lay Jesus’ body to rest in a timely manner.
What Can We Learn from Joseph of Arimathea?
We can learn at least two things from this man's example:
1. God will give courage to those looking for His kingdom.
Jesus had taught about worry and fear, saying: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). The fact that Joseph of Arimathea “took courage” at the necessary time is an example of this truth in action. Courage was added as Joseph sought God’s kingdom, growing daily in his walk with Jesus.
2. Riches can be used righteously.
Money itself is not the root of all evil (as is often misquoted from the Bible); instead, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Paul’s instruction of Timothy includes advice for the wealthy: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
Joseph seemed to be a future-minded man who had already prepared a tomb for himself in the inevitable event of his eventual death. But he was “generous and ready to share” by giving away his tomb to Jesus, his Lord. This is an example to believers that we should be eager to share with others as we seek God’s kingdom and keep an eternal perspective on our possessions.
Joseph of Arimathea’s appearance in Scripture is brief but remarkable. Formerly afraid to publicly identify with Jesus, he courageously goes to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body and generously shares his own tomb to be Jesus’ temporary resting place before Jesus’ resurrection a few days later. Believers can be inspired by his courage, generosity, and quick thinking, which God gave to him at the right time as he faithfully sought God’s kingdom.
Read more: Why Is Joseph of Arimathea Important to the Easter Story?
Photo credit: created and edited using AI technologies
This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.
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20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible
Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible?
Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus?
Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important?
Originally published March 17, 2021.
