My apologies for the long delay in devotions. The Easter season overwhelmed me a little and then we were away on leave...
Joseph (Part 1)
| It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. (Mark15:42-45) |
I have a little theory. I can't prove it, but in eternity we'll know if I'm right.
I think that Joseph of Arimathea was the "Rich Young Ruler" who walked away when Jesus told him to give up all he had... If I'm right, this makes the events of this passage very significant.
The name "Joseph" means, "God will add."
This is very fitting for this moment because, although this account is about a burial, God will add resurrection to the story.
Let's pick up the details:
- It was Preparation Day: They had until sunset and then the Sabbath begins. So it was urgent to get this work done, thus avoiding defilement on the Sabbath.
- Joseph is from Arimathea which was also called Ramah. There were a number of places called Ramah in the OT, because the name can mean "high, exalted, lifted up, lookout, height." There is also a possible link to the Ramah mentioned by Jeremiah and quoted by Matthew when Herod orders that the baby boys around Bethlehem be killed - "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning..."
- Joseph was a prominent member of the Council which was the highest Jewish governing body consisting of chief priests, elders and the teachers of the law. They made religious decisions, legal judgments and, ironically, were the ones who decided on the arrest and trial that led to Jesus' crucifixion.
- Joseph was "waiting for the Kingdom of God." This means that he was spiritually aware. Another member of the council, Nicodemus, had been to meet Jesus (see John 3) and according to the other gospels, he accompanies Joseph to the burial. So it seems that there were some religious leaders who had open hearts and were contemplating Jesus' significance.
- He boldly went to Pilate. Mark is highlighting the irony here. The council condemned Jesus to death and now Joseph is giving Him a dignified funeral. This would have placed Joseph under a spotlight of suspicion and criticism. This would have had to be a carefully considered decision, especially as it involved a family tomb, and Joseph makes it boldly.
- Pilate is surprised that Jesus is already dead. This was because crucifixion was a slow and cruel way of putting people to death. Mark is making an important point here. Jesus' life wasn't taken by Roman torture, His life was given for us.
- Pilate gives the body to Joseph. Normally crucified criminals' bodies were discarded like refuse. Rome preferred it that way, it proved their supremacy. To have an executed man's body buried among the wealthy and elite would have mixed the message that Roman Crucifixion was meant to convey. Maybe it was the impact Jesus had on Pilate earlier that day that led him to agree to this request.
- Joseph is a leader who, in spite of the other toxic leaders in the Council, was impacted by Jesus.
- Pilate was also impacted by Jesus and releases His body for dignified burial instead of humiliation.
- In Joseph's name ("God will add") and in the name of his home town ("Ramah" - the place of weeping) we find hints of the sadness Jesus came to heal and the hope of resurrection.
