It can be difficult for anyone to declare their faith openly, especially in danger. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were both secret followers of Jesus. This Black Saturday, we can do a topical study on Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, and John 19:38-42. In the four accounts, we read Nicodemus in John, who brought in a mixture of myrrh and aloes. Please take note that this aloe here isn’t the aloe vera plant used for skin moisturizing. Instead, this aloe here is some kind of gum that’s used for embalming the dead.
An interesting note about Arimathea is that it’s around 15-20 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Joseph himself was a member of the Sanhedrin. I could imagine the nervousness Joseph of Arimathea lived for those 3.5 years. However, one day, he probably had enough and decided to declare his faith. This is really like no matter how well-hidden a tree is, if the conditions are good, expect some roots and expect from fruits. This is my favorite illustration of Joseph of Arimathea’s sudden bold move. This man went to the spineless Pontius Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
It was the day before the Sabbath and this move would make him unclean. Mark describes Joseph of Arimathea as taking courage. Can you imagine somebody who was a Christian for some time, hid it, but one day, can’t contain it? Some people tend to be timid during times of calm and become courageous at the worst times. Give the churches in those areas enough persecution and secret Christians may end up witnessing fearlessly instead. It’s probably because some people tend to be risk seekers, thrill seekers, or confrontations by nature. The fact that Joseph of Arimathea took courage to ask for the body of Jesus. Luke notes that Joseph of Arimathea took action without the consent of the Sanhedrin. This was a dangerous move but he did it anyway.
This is where human disbelief falls in. Mark describes that Pilate was surprised that Jesus had already died. Crucifixion usually took days to die. I remember a parody film where the Centurion said, “It doesn’t matter because you’ll all die in a day or two. Mark also accounts that Pilate ordered the centurion to check if Jesus had truly died. Sabbath was falling and the bodies had to be taken down from the cross. The Roman practice was to break the legs with an iron mallet, to hasten death. As for Jesus, He was verified to have already died. Rome usually had no problems leaving crucified people to rot in public. However, the Jewish leaders insisted that the bodies be taken down according to Jewish law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). It was also Passover, all the more it was necessary to take down the bodies. Jesus’ bones weren’t broken to fulfill the role of the Passover Lamb of God (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12).
Why do I still believe in the Good Friday crucifixion instead of Wednesday or Thursday? Why do I insist that Good Friday was no invention of Rome? The evening came and it was the day of preparation. Jewish reckoning would count evening as the beginning of a new day. It means that Jesus’ death was on a Jewish Thursday and a Roman Friday. The Roman system of counting would demand a literal 72 hours. The third day would be Sunday. The day before the Sabbath would be Friday, the day before or the preparation day for the Sabbath.
Giving a crucified victim an honorable burial was very unheard of. Can you imagine the secret disciples had decided to let it all out? It’s a big relief in their consciences. They who followed in secret decided to bury Jesus in public. You can imagine how someone can shut up about their being a Christian until their Lord is blasphemed. There’s really that boiling point that will say, “I can’t stand being a secret follower! I will follow Him in public because He lived publicly for me!” An interesting note is that though people who died by crucifixion usually forfeited their right to burial, their bodies were usually granted to relatives who asked for them. However, emotional exhaustion hit Mary. Where were the brothers and sisters of Jesus in the flesh? The disciples had fled. I’d say God touched the guilty consciences of the two secret followers to do what was rightful.
Isaiah 53:9 was getting fulfilled at that very moment. Jesus was crucified in-between two criminals who deserved it. Jesus didn’t deserve His death. I bet the body of the repentant thief was most likely discarded dishonorably together with the unrepentant thief. Jesus was given a burial in an unused tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. I bet Joseph of Arimathea got fired from the Sanhedrin for what he did. Maybe, Joseph of Arimathea had a “You can’t fire me because I quit!” moment. I can’t be certain. The two formerly secret followers couldn’t participate in the meal because they were defiled. By Jewish standards, handling a dead body meant someone was unceremonially unclean. This was most likely done to prevent infection. Handling the body of a crucified person would carry a great deal of germs. The germs on the Savior’s body would also represent the curse. Death and disease came into the world because of Adam. Jesus would undo the fault of Adam (Romans 5:10-12).
What was better than attending the Passover was that the two former secret disciples carried the body of the Lamb of God. Hebrews 9-10 talks about the whole redemption through the blood of Christ. The blood of goats and bulls couldn’t take away sins. The Passover sacrifices were pointing to the Messiah, the Christ. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea missed the actual Passover because of the greater Passover. Hebrews 10:1 also further clarifies that the law is but a shadow, the sacrifice was just a shadow too. The sacrifice for all kinds of sin was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. That’s why there’s no more sacrifice for sins. Unfortunately, people still kept deliberately sinning as proof of unbelief. The rejection of Christ by the Jews is no different than the Gentiles doing so. Both Jews and Gentiles need to be born again.
With this in mind, a tree is known for its fruit. Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus tried to hide it. However, trials and tribulations ironically made them finally come out of the closet. I think it was because of the shock that the crucifixion of Jesus caused. Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus became providential to make sure that Isaiah 53:9 would be fulfilled.
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