Joseph From Arimathea

Mark 15:42-47

Jesus died on a Friday. The time was 3 o‘clock. Sunset was at 6 o‘clock. After Friday‘s sunset, the Jews do not work. It is the beginning of Saturday. And Saturday is their special day for rest.

Joseph wanted to bury Jesus‘ dead body before Friday‘s sunset. Joseph did not want to work on Saturday. So he had to bury the body quickly.

First, Joseph had to ask Pilate for the dead body. That was a dangerous thing to do, because Pilate might be angry. But Joseph was a brave man. And he believed that God wanted him to bury Jesus.

Joseph was an important man. He was a leader of the Jews. And he was also a man who believed God. Joseph believed that God would soon rule the lives of his people. Because Joseph believed, he wanted to bury Jesus properly. Joseph buried Jesus as people buried a rich man (Isaiah 53:9).

Joseph‘s workers had already prepared the place. They had cut a deep hole into the rock. There, Joseph put the dead body. And there was a large stone to cover the front of the hole. Joseph used that stone to close it.