Joseph of Arimathea's Encounter
Joseph of Arimathea's Encounter
Luke 23:50-24:9
50 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, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 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. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
50 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, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 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. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
The sixth person we meet beneath the cross of Jesus is Joseph of Arimathea. He does not show up in the Bible until the day of Jesus’ burial; afterwards, we never hear from him again. But during his short time on the stage, Joseph helps us hear a three-fold invitation from the risen Jesus Christ.
Stop being impressive
Joseph is impressive in every way: socially, financially, and morally. But on almost every page of Luke, Jesus tells us that “impressive people” are in spiritual danger. They are in danger of thinking that God is as impressed by them as everyone else is. In danger of thinking their achievement, performance, and behavior gives them status with God.
Jesus spent his whole ministry telling us that no one impresses God! God sees past our impressive appearances to the bottom, hidden corners of our hearts, where even the most impressive can’t hide his sin. There, high-achievers like Joseph are in the same condition as Mary Magdalene, the demon-possessed prostitute. God is not impressed by our good behavior, conservative values, spiritual performance, hard work ethic, or anything else. Jesus says the only way any of us gets to God is by grace.
It’s a hard message to hear if you’re impressive. In fact, that message got Jesus killed by all the impressive people he offended! Joseph may have been insulted the first time he heard Jesus talk about grace. But somewhere along the way, his heart changed. He stopped being impressed with himself, and was impressed with God’s mercy to a sinner like him. This is the only reason he would identify with Jesus here, along with a crucified thief, a Roman Centurion, and Mary Magdalene. He learned the only thing that makes us worthy before God is knowing we’re unworthy. All we offer God is knowing we have nothing to offer. Have you stopped being impressive?
Jesus spent his whole ministry telling us that no one impresses God! God sees past our impressive appearances to the bottom, hidden corners of our hearts, where even the most impressive can’t hide his sin. There, high-achievers like Joseph are in the same condition as Mary Magdalene, the demon-possessed prostitute. God is not impressed by our good behavior, conservative values, spiritual performance, hard work ethic, or anything else. Jesus says the only way any of us gets to God is by grace.
It’s a hard message to hear if you’re impressive. In fact, that message got Jesus killed by all the impressive people he offended! Joseph may have been insulted the first time he heard Jesus talk about grace. But somewhere along the way, his heart changed. He stopped being impressed with himself, and was impressed with God’s mercy to a sinner like him. This is the only reason he would identify with Jesus here, along with a crucified thief, a Roman Centurion, and Mary Magdalene. He learned the only thing that makes us worthy before God is knowing we’re unworthy. All we offer God is knowing we have nothing to offer. Have you stopped being impressive?
Settle the conflict
Joseph is a “member of the council,” the group that killed Jesus, but he “had not consented to their decision and action.” We might imagine Joseph taking a heroic stand for Jesus against the council, but the other gospels tell us different. John calls Joseph “a disciple of Jesus but secretly, for fear of the Jews.” (John 19:38) In his heart, Joseph considered himself a disciple of Jesus, but feared going public. He kept silent as they plotted, silent at the trial, silent at the cross. What was he afraid of? Death? No, John 12:42–43 says: “Many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” Joseph didn’t go all in with Jesus because he was a slave to others’ opinions. He was afraid of losing his social position, status, and respect. A conflict raged in his heart between wanting to live for God’s glory and man’s glory.
We know about that. We all want to be liked, respected, admired, accepted, and approved by others. The Bible says that this desire can become an idol: it can control our lives, dictate our decisions, and keep us from following God’s call. The craving for approval creates an inner conflict that makes us utterly miserable, because no man can serve two masters. That’s where Joseph has been: wanting to follow Jesus, yet afraid of what it may cost him to do what he knew he needed to do. Maybe you are there.
But when Joseph saw Jesus die on the cross, something broke. The cross showed him how wonderful and worthy Jesus was, and how cheap and petty man’s opinion was. All four gospels tell us Joseph “took courage,” went to Pilate, requested the body of Jesus, and laid him in his own tomb. As he walked past his snarling ex-friends, carrying the body of his Lord, the conflict was settled. His idol was crushed. He was finally free to follow Jesus.
We know about that. We all want to be liked, respected, admired, accepted, and approved by others. The Bible says that this desire can become an idol: it can control our lives, dictate our decisions, and keep us from following God’s call. The craving for approval creates an inner conflict that makes us utterly miserable, because no man can serve two masters. That’s where Joseph has been: wanting to follow Jesus, yet afraid of what it may cost him to do what he knew he needed to do. Maybe you are there.
But when Joseph saw Jesus die on the cross, something broke. The cross showed him how wonderful and worthy Jesus was, and how cheap and petty man’s opinion was. All four gospels tell us Joseph “took courage,” went to Pilate, requested the body of Jesus, and laid him in his own tomb. As he walked past his snarling ex-friends, carrying the body of his Lord, the conflict was settled. His idol was crushed. He was finally free to follow Jesus.
See the difference
There is one thing about Joseph Luke doesn’t want us to follow. Something is missing from his faith that’s so vital, you can’t even call Joseph a Christian yet. What is it?
Joseph thinks of Jesus as a dead hero. Jesus was a great man, a wise teacher, a wonderful person he loved and admired—but now he’s gone. All Joseph can do is honor his memory: obey his teaching, follow his example, perform little acts of devotion. Many people think that is Christianity. Easter is about paying your respects to Jesus, studying his words, and honoring his memory. Like the women trudging to the tomb with their spices, we trudge to church to remember Jesus for a few minutes, then trudge back off to grind out another week.
This is not Christianity at all!
This is why Luke leads us back to the tomb on Sunday morning, where the stone has been rolled away and the body of Jesus is missing. He stuns us with the angels’ message: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’ This is the Easter gospel! ‘You are thinking of Jesus all wrong! He’s not a dead hero to remember and honor; he’s a living Savior to know right now! Yes he died, but it was for you—to pay the penalty for your sins. And now he’s risen. He’s alive, and is already on the move, ready to meet with you, to forgive you, empower you, lead you. He doesn’t want you trudging through religion, he wants you to enjoy a relationship with him! You can know him, love him, trust him, and walk with him right now!’
This message transforms the women! Instead of trudging, they’re running! Instead of sorrowful, overjoyed! They aren’t grinding out a dead religion anymore, but telling others about the salvation Jesus won for them! They are not looking backward anymore, but forward, to a new life with the risen Christ. They’ve forgotten the tomb and spices because they don’t need them—they have Jesus, and always will. That’s the Easter message. That’s real Christian faith.
Do you see the difference?
Joseph thinks of Jesus as a dead hero. Jesus was a great man, a wise teacher, a wonderful person he loved and admired—but now he’s gone. All Joseph can do is honor his memory: obey his teaching, follow his example, perform little acts of devotion. Many people think that is Christianity. Easter is about paying your respects to Jesus, studying his words, and honoring his memory. Like the women trudging to the tomb with their spices, we trudge to church to remember Jesus for a few minutes, then trudge back off to grind out another week.
This is not Christianity at all!
This is why Luke leads us back to the tomb on Sunday morning, where the stone has been rolled away and the body of Jesus is missing. He stuns us with the angels’ message: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’ This is the Easter gospel! ‘You are thinking of Jesus all wrong! He’s not a dead hero to remember and honor; he’s a living Savior to know right now! Yes he died, but it was for you—to pay the penalty for your sins. And now he’s risen. He’s alive, and is already on the move, ready to meet with you, to forgive you, empower you, lead you. He doesn’t want you trudging through religion, he wants you to enjoy a relationship with him! You can know him, love him, trust him, and walk with him right now!’
This message transforms the women! Instead of trudging, they’re running! Instead of sorrowful, overjoyed! They aren’t grinding out a dead religion anymore, but telling others about the salvation Jesus won for them! They are not looking backward anymore, but forward, to a new life with the risen Christ. They’ve forgotten the tomb and spices because they don’t need them—they have Jesus, and always will. That’s the Easter message. That’s real Christian faith.
Do you see the difference?
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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
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