Joseph of Arimathea

In Mark’s Gospel

• After Jesus died, "he took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus" (Mark 15:43) — going to the Roman governor as a council member took courage; the Sanhedrin had just condemned Jesus

• Pilate was surprised Jesus was already dead; he summoned the centurion, confirmed it, and granted the body to Joseph

  Mark 15:44-45

• Joseph bought a linen shroud, took him down, wrapped him, laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance

  Mark 15:46

• Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid

  Mark 15:47

Who they were

• ✦Courageous — stepped forward when the disciples had fled (Mark 15:43)
• ✦Devout — "looking for the kingdom of God" even from inside the council (Mark 15:43)
• ✦Generous — gave his own tomb for the Lord (Mark 15:46; Matt 27:60)

Read about them

Faces of Faith

“Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” — Hebrews 12:1

A keepsake of Joseph of Arimathea’s story — the portrait on the front, the key moments on the back.