023706 Finding God in the mysteries of every day-Free Devotional
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Mark 15: 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 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. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
Joseph of Arimathea by Pietro Perugino, a detail from his Lamentation over the Dead Christ
The text above sets the stage for John’s story of the resurrection. Joseph of Arimethea plays a significant role in not only providing the place for Jesus’ entombment, but he does so from his position as a member of “the ruling council”.
I believe that Mark was scrupulous on including this description to indicate the de-facto division that existed among the Jews themselves over the reality and truth of Jesus. With all due grace, I wonder indeed if any of us would be so astute as to recognize the Savior if he walked among us. The fact that a whole legend grew up within the Catholic Church about Joseph and his possible connection with Nicodemus (John 3, see also Wikipedia on Joseph, specifically quotes from the “Gospel of Nicodemus” )
From his position he would have been recognized by the Roman authorities and been able to go “boldly to Pilate,” In this way he fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9. No matter. The important thing to recognize is that the evidence for the truth about all of the claims of Jesus as our Messiah will never outweigh the simple evidence of His Spirit living within us.
Larry M Lawrence- Mysteries 