I was reading through the Easter account again from the book of Mark in the Bible. Mark is widely accepted to be a writer for Peter and recorded all that Peter told him about Jesus. Although Mark was not an eyewitness to Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, he is writing down what has been shared with him by a person who was.
Mark tells us that after Jesus dies on the cross a member of the Jewish Council (also known as the Sanhedrin) asks for permission to bury the body of Jesus. This might seem at first glance to be simply a kind gesture, but it’s much deeper than this.
“As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)” Mark 15:42-43 NLT
The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible sums up what we know of Joseph. “He was a rich man from the town of Arimathea and a respected member of the Sanhedrin, or council (Mk 15:43). He was a good and righteous man, and did not go along with the decision to crucify Jesus (Lk 23:50, 51). Joseph had been a secret follower of Jesus because he was afraid of the Jews (Jn 19:38), but after the crucifixion he took courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body. He and Nicodemus took the body, treated it with spices, and wrapped it in linen cloths, according to the Jewish burial customs. In a nearby garden was Joseph’s own new rock-cut tomb in which no one had ever been buried. Here they placed Jesus and sealed the tomb with a large stone.”
What makes this whole account amazing is that both Joseph and Nicodemus kept their faith hidden because they were afraid. Joseph took a risk (was bold, worked up great courage) to ask the ruling governor from Rome for Jesus’ body because this news would travel quickly back to the Sanhedrin. The very Jewish council that Joseph was a part of had a hand in demanding the crucifixion of Jesus, so why would one of its members want to bury Jesus?
Think about the risk he took to be known as a follower of the very one his council had just executed.. What was stopping the Sanhedrin from putting Joseph and Nicodemus to death?
It begs the question of us this Easter – What risk have you taken for Jesus to be known as His follower? What courage could you have to share the hope of your salvation with others, regardless of the risk.