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. (John 19:38 ESV)
One cannot fully appreciate the man Joseph, without surveying all four gospels. Matthew describes him as a rich man AND a disciple. From what Jesus had said about the rich, this alone makes Joseph an extraordinary man! Mark adds that he was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, who was looking for the kingdom of God, and he patiently waited permission while Jesus' death was confirmed by the centurion on duty.(That meant he was awkwardly conspicuous as people would see him waiting there and wonder why he was there.) Luke describes him as good and righteous, and that he had not voted with the rest in condemning Jesus to death. The one "negative" here in John's account is that he was a "secret" disciple, becuase he feared the Jew. Before we jump on Joseph for that, let's keep in mind that this phrase was used to describe the disciples hiding in the room behind closed doors after the resurrection! Joseph loved and followed Jesus, seeking to serve Him in any way possible. Let us not snub him for being a snobbish rich man; let us not point the accusing finger calling him a coward; let us follow his example of what it means to follow and serve Jesus.
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