And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
And after this, Joseph of Arimathea - a place which cannot now be identified. Matthew (Matthew 27:57) says he was "a rich man" thus fulfilling the prediction that Messiah should be "with the rich in his death" (Isaiah 53:9). Mark (Mark 15:43) says he was "an honourable counselor" х euscheemoon (G2158) bouleutees (G1010)] - or a member of the Sanhedrim and of superior position - "which also waited for the kingdom of God," or was a devout expectant of Messiah's kingdom. Luke (Luke 23:50-51) says further of him, "he was a good man and a just; the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them" - or had not been a consenting party to the condemnation and death of Jesus. Perhaps, however, this does not mean that he openly dissented and protested against the decision and subsequent proceedings of the Council of which he was a member; but simply that he had avoided taking any active part in them, by absenting himself from their meetings. Finally, to complete our knowledge of this important person, forever dear to the Christian Church for what is about to be related, our Evangelist adds,
Being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews. No wonder that he and Nicodemus are classed together. But if before, they were noted for timid discipleship, they are now signally one in courageous discipleship.
Besought Pilate that he might [be permitted to] take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave.
Our Evangelist merely says, Joseph "besought Pilate that he might [be permitted to] take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave." But Mark, in the following passage, notices the courage which this required, and gives some other particulars of the deepest interest.
Mark 15:43-45: "Joseph ... went in boldly" х tolmeesas (G5111) eiseelthen (G1525)] - or 'had the courage to go in,' "and craved the body of Jesus." That act would without doubt identify him for the first time with the disciples of Christ. Marvellous it certainly is, that one who while Jesus was yet alive merely refrained from condemning Him-not having the courage to espouse His cause by one positive act-should, now that He was dead, and His cause apparently dead with Him, summon up courage to go in personally to the Roman Governor and ask permission to take down and inter the body. But if this be the first instance, it is not the last, that a seemingly dead Christ has wakened a sympathy which a living one had failed to evoke. The heroism of faith is usually kindled by desperate circumstances, and is not seldom displayed by those who before were the most timid, and scarce known as disciples at all. "And Pilate marveled if he were already dead" [ei non tethneeken] - or rather, 'wondered that he was dead already' - "and calling the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while (or 'long') dead." Pilate could hardly credit what Joseph had told him, that He had been dead 'some time,' and before giving up the body to His friends, would learn how the fact stood from the centurion, whose business it was to oversee the execution. "And when he knew it of the centurion," that it was as Joseph had said, "he gave" х edooreesato (G1433)] - or rather, 'made a gift of' "the body to Joseph;" struck, possibly, with the rank of the petitioner and the dignified boldness of the petition, in contrast with the spirit of the other party and the low rank to which he had been led to believe all the followers of Christ belonged.
Nor would he be unwilling to show that he was not going to carry this scandalous proceeding any further. But whatever were Pilate's motives, two most blessed objects were thus secured: First, The reality of our Lord's death was attested by the party of all others most competent to decide on it, and certainly free from all bias-the officer in attendance-in full reliance on whose testimony Pilate surrendered the body. Second, The dead Redeemer, thus delivered out of the hands of His enemies, and committed by the supreme political authority to the care of His friends, was thereby protected from all further indignities; a thing most befitting indeed, now that His work was done, but not to have been expected if His enemies had been at liberty to do with Him as they pleased. How wonderful are even the minutest features of this matchless History! He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.