Joseph of Arimathea

And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.
And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Luke 23:50-56



There were some Pharisees who were true believers. They stayed quiet about it, during Jesus' public ministry, and there were not many, but they did exist. Joseph of Arimathea was one, or a Sadducee. If the Bible calls him a good and righteous man, that means he was a man who understood and believed the plan of God, and wanted to obey it as best he could. The only righteousness is God's Righteousness, and the only way to have that is by believing in His perfect plan of grace. It is a gift, never earned. It is received by faith, never calculated or bargained for. Those who believed and identified with God's plan of grace before Jesus' atonement were saved by the same means we are, who believe and identify with Him since the atonement. God is timeless. There was an appointed earthly time for the atonement to be fulfilled, but it was an accomplished fact in eternity past, by order of the Divine Decree of God. Adam and Eve were saved by it, as were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the patriarchs. They looked forward to the cross, as we look back to it. The atonement applies across all times and dispensations.

Joseph had stood aside during the conspiracy to arrest and crucify Jesus, knowing that the Savior had a divine appointment with destiny, which would atone for the sins of the whole human race. However he understood this, he was waiting for the fulfillment of the kingdom. This righteous man asked for the body of Jesus and took care of the burial arrangements, wrapping it in linen cloths (in much the same way He was swaddled at birth), placing Him in Joseph's own tomb, wherein no one had ever before lain. The women of Galilee who had been followers and supporters of Jesus took note of the place where the body was laid, and made plans to come back and prepare the body with spices and perfumes, as was the custom. It was Friday night. The Sabbath had begun, and they must rest.

Regarding Joseph: it is important for us to realize that no matter what we think of certain "Christian" groups and practices, there are usually some within that organization who understand the gospel message of Jesus Christ and believe it. Whatever their reason for staying in the religion, they are saved by receiving the same grace that saved you and me, and "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." 2 Timothy 2:19. Joseph turned out to be a true and loyal believer, and became part of the most important story ever told, because of his faith and his willingness to provide a proper burial for the Lord of Life. He who shares my faith is my brother, and I thank God for his act of love.