People of the Bible
Who Was Joseph of Arimathea in the Bible?
Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy council member and secret disciple who bravely asked Pilate for Jesus' body and laid Him in his own new tomb.
Joseph was an honorable member of the ruling council who had been waiting for the kingdom of God and had become a disciple of Jesus, though quietly, for fear of the authorities. When Jesus died, this cautious man found sudden courage.
He went boldly to Pilate to ask for the body, and with Nicodemus wrapped Jesus in linen and spices and laid Him in his own unused tomb. His hidden faith stepped fully into the open at the very moment others fled.
Key verses
“Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”Mark 15:43, King James Version
“And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock.”Matthew 27:60, King James Version
A key moment
When the crowds have gone and the disciples have scattered, a secret believer steps forward, asks for the body of Jesus, and gives Him an honorable burial.
What we learn
We learn that faith kept quiet for a time can rise into courage when it is needed most, and that honoring Christ sometimes means acting when others have given up.
How Joseph of Arimathea points to Jesus
Joseph gave Jesus his own new tomb, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would be with the rich in His death. That borrowed grave would soon be empty, for the One laid there in sorrow rose in glory three days later.
Common questions
Where is Joseph of Arimathea in the Bible?
Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19.
What can we learn from Joseph of Arimathea?
We learn that faith kept quiet for a time can rise into courage when it is needed most, and that honoring Christ sometimes means acting when others have given up.
The same God who met Joseph of Arimathea is near to you today. Step inside The Living Bread to read the Scriptures, pray, and walk with the family of God.