And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.  And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.  And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Never enough could be said about Joseph. What a man! Oh that men today would rise up like him!

• He was a respected member of the council
• He was looking for the kingdom of God
• He took courage to ask Pilate for his body (this was risky)
• Joseph spent his own money to buy the linen shroud
• It was likely that he laid Jesus in his own tomb
• Joseph was a rich man (Isaiah 53:9)

Joseph had a lot to lose if people turned on him for what he did. The Jews hated Jesus with a passion. And yet Joseph should great care, dignity and respect. He could have lost his position at the council, or been punished by the Romans falsely accused as a co-conspirator/friend, and may have lost his great wealth. Yet he showed him the greatest honor and respect, burying him in his own tomb.

Sometimes we hear of nations that are 100% of a particular faith. Nothing can be further from the truth. There is also the hidden God-seeker who at the right time becomes public, even at great personal risk. Joseph was that man.

Bless Joseph of Arimathea. I want to meet him in heaven as he is a hero.