Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned in all 4 Gospels as the person who provided for the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42). The accounts vary in detail but the facts agreed are that Joseph came from the town of Arimathea, north-west of Jerusalem. He was a member of the Jewish Council, and was sufficiently wealthy to build a new burial place for himself near Jerusalem.

Luke makes it clear Joseph did not support the Sanhedrin in their demand for the death sentence on Jesus (Luke 23:51). After Jesus death, Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus body and provided it with decent burial. As a good Jew he would have been concerned for the ritual defilement that would have ensued if the dead body had remained unburied (Deuteronomy 21:23). But to offer his own tomb?

The bodies of victims of crucifixion were usually left on the crosses as an example, unless relatives with influence requested the body. It has been suggested that Joseph, who was influential, had to have been a relative of Jesus (an Uncle), this is not absolutely proven, but it makes sense. His offer of his own tomb and the fact that no one in Joseph's high position would handle a dead body, making them ritually impure, so close to Passover, unless they were a close relative or a disciple. It has been suggested that Joseph was both. It was a gracious act, that fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 53:9).

Combining Gospel reports, Joseph assisted by John and the women received the body of Jesus from the cross, and laid him in Joseph's tomb, then the women left to prepare the ointments and spices needed to embalm the body. Their were 2 Sabbath's in a row, the High Holy Sabbath of Passover, followed by the regular Sabbath so it would be Sunday morning before they could return. John assisted Joseph to chisel out one end of the tomb. it had been made to measure for Joseph, Jesus was taller. Nicodemus arrived, with the spices and ointments needed after the women had left. So the 2 priests did what was required then they rolled shut the tomb.

There are many legends about Joseph of Arimathea, but the most interesting and possibly truthful is recorded in the apocryphal book, ‘The Gospel of Nicodemus’, a document attached to ‘The Acts of Pilate’. The Jewish elders express anger at him for burying Jesus, and had him arrested and imprisoned in a cell with no windows, posting a guard and placing a seal on the door to his cell. When they returned on Sunday after the Sabbath's, to take him out and interrogate him, they found the seal on the door intact but Joseph gone. They later discover he is home in Arimathea, outside of their jurisdiction, they had to offer him immunity to get him to return and testify. The reaction of Pilate to the events that occurred during the crucifixion and the resurrection are also recorded - he was very unhappy with the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees.

There are various myths and legends linking Joseph to the Holy Grail and the founding of the Gospel in Britain, especially Glastonbury, whether there is any truth in these is unknown.

Quotes at the bottom of our prayer pages today come from the Gospel of Nicodemus.