The four Gospels tell us about Joseph of Arimathea, all of them in the context of the burial of Jesus. Each one of them provides some detail that helps to characterize him. Only John gives us news of the Pharisee Nicodemus: in the well-known nocturnal dialogue with Jesus (Jn 3:1-21), when he came to his defense before the other Pharisees (Jn 7:50-51) and in the descent and burial of the body of the Lord (Jn 19:39). Also within the most influential sector of the society of Israel there were disciples and witnesses of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea
The most outstanding quality of Joseph, pointed out by the four evangelists, is precisely that of being a follower of Jesus. Matthew and John tell us expressly that he was "disciple of Jesus" (Mt 27:57 and Jn 19:38). Mark, together with Luke, says that "awaited the Kingdom of God." (Mk 15:43 and Lk 23:51). John, on the other hand, clarifies that he was a disciple but "on the sly, for fear of the Jews." (Jn 19:38). Luke indicates that he did not agree with the decisions and actions of the Council (cf. Lk 23:51). Everything indicates that he carried his disagreement with a certain discretion, but before the highest civil authority, he showed "boldness" in asking for the body of the Lord (Mk 15:43). Finally, as Luke points out, a "good and righteous man" (Lk 23:50).
As is also the case with other characters, there is no explicit call for Joseph to follow Jesus in the Gospel accounts. The expression of Mt 27, 57 can be translated as "he became a disciple of Jesus", or "he became a disciple" or simply "he was a disciple". The silence about it in the Gospels invites us to think of a decision taken reflectively, and exercised with great discretion. We are also told of his position: Matthew tells us simply that he was a disciple of Jesus. "a rich man" (Mt 27:57), which is consistent with what Luke tells us: "member of the Sanhedrin" (Lk 23:50), even more so if we add the detail of Mark: "illustrious member" (15, 43).
Nicodemus
All these details make the man of Arimathea a character very similar to Nicodemus. Of him we know better his adhesion to the Lord, because of the dialogue that is related in Jn. 3.
We can say that it was a process, rather than an immediate response to a call. In some way, as in the case of Joseph, Nicodemus also "became" a disciple: at night, to avoid being singled out among the Jewish leaders, he sought out Jesus to learn more about Him; later we will find him in two other moments, clearly taking sides with the Lord. In the first of these, John presents him in a discussion with the Pharisees, in which he distanced himself from the general opinion hostile to Jesus, coming to his defense: "Is it that our Law judges a man without first hearing him and knowing what he has done?" (Jn 7:51). He was also "of the chief of the Jews" (Jn 3:1). That makes him most probably a member of the Sanhedrin, like Joseph, but from among the group of scribes or doctors of the Law, belonging mostly to the group of the Pharisees.
The detail of the enormous quantity of the myrrh and aloe mixture that Nicodemus brought to the burial of Jesus ("about a hundred pounds"Jn 19, 39, which would be equivalent to approximately 32 kg!) indicates that he was also of good position.
Descent and burial
We have seen several separate details that make Joseph and Nicodemus two very close characters, who shared the same position and ideals. But it is the evangelist John who presents them together at the moment of the descent from the cross and the burial of Jesus.
The law forbade the corpse of an executed person to spend the night hanging on the tree (cf. Dt 21:22-23). Therefore, the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of Jesus on the cross, to hasten his death and bury him before nightfall (Jn 19:31); we know that this was not necessary, since Jesus had already died, thus fulfilling the Scripture: "They won't break a bone." (Jn 36; cf. Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:21). It is then that Joseph and Nicodemus hasten to remove the body of Jesus and give it an honorable burial.
In the case of Joseph, the details of the Gospel narrative (some specific to each evangelist, others coincidental) make this man a faithful disciple: courageous, generous, full of love for the Master. The scene of the descent of Jesus' body, in which the two of them are the protagonists, using a sheet bought by Joseph himself, has inspired great works of art and, more importantly, the piety of many Christians. Both show a commendable magnanimity; Nicodemus, with the purchase of a large quantity of spices: just like Mary of Bethany with her ointment (cf. Jn 12:1-8) was "to God the good odor of Christ among those who are being saved." (2 Cor. 7:15); Joseph of Arimathea, in giving up his new tomb for the body of Christ; to him belonged the first sign of the resurrection of Jesus: the empty tomb. One and the other, with their gestures and belongings, had their part in the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Professor of Sacred Scripture
