Luke 23:50Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Joseph had previously kept his identity hidden, but now he steps forward with great dignity. Despite being part of the council and wealthy, he courageously requests the body of the condemned Man, untroubled by potential threats, even if he had a fear of wealth. He takes the body and lays it in a newly hewn tomb, ensuring that no one else had been laid there before, to prevent any accusations that another’s body had come back to life.

Mary is exalted by Eve, and Joseph is honored by Joseph, for the individual who requested Jesus' body shared the name Joseph. The elder Joseph was so virtuous that, as the Scriptures indicate, he did not bring shame upon Mary (Matthew 1:19), and the younger Joseph also exhibited righteousness by refusing to align himself with the accusers and their actions. This illustrates that the Lord chose to share in that name which He first embraced at His birth, allowing it to envelop His mortal remains so that this name might receive a complete reward. It served Him at His nativity in the manger and tended to His body in the sepulcher.

Why did Joseph and Nicodemus handle the burial instead of the apostles? For details on Christ's burial, refer to Matt. 27:57-61; Mk. 15:42-47; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:38-42. The first man is described as righteous and faithful, while the second is noted for his integrity (see Jn. 1:47). St. Ambrose recounts what Christ said regarding Nathanael. Additionally, there is no deceit or wrongdoing associated with Christ's burial. The Jewish authorities are thwarted by the testimony of their own kin, effectively preventing defamatory accusations. If the apostles had buried Christ, they would have been charged with conspiring to steal His body rather than providing a proper burial. Only in John's account do we see that Joseph approached Pilate discreetly, fearing the Jews.

The entirety of this matter is thoroughly addressed in the sixtieth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew.

Notes: *Matthew 27:57-60

The sepulcher Observe how the Redeemer is placed in an unfamiliar grave, having no burial ground of His own. This illustrates that He bore the sins of others. Death is not a part of our nature, but rather something that has been imposed upon us; it does not accompany Him but rather stands before us. Why would He, being devoid of death within Himself, require a grave? Why should there be a burial for Him whose throne is established in heaven? Why a tomb for Him who, within three days, not only revived the dead within the sepulcher but also rested calmly as though He were merely sleeping? He has even described that fleeting moment as a period of rest rather than death, for the grave is the domain of death.

After our Redeemer experienced a disgraceful death for humanity, there remained one final act of humility: His burial as the Son of Man. The Gospel narratives concerning the burial of the Savior first describe His removal from the cross, followed by the preparations for His burial and the subsequent guarding by soldiers. Let us examine the initial event, where the Evangelists portray Joseph and Nicodemus in an enlightening manner. A wealthy man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had also learned from Jesus, approached our home (Matthew 27:57). The land of Arimathea, where Joseph hailed from, is the ancient Haramathaim, the birthplace of the Prophet Samuel, a city belonging to the tribe of Ephraim (1 Sam. 1:1); St.

As the day drew to a close, arrangements were made to remove the bodies from the crosses to ensure they did not remain on display during the Passover celebrations. At this time, a wealthy man named Joseph approached Pilate. Hailing from Arimathea, a town in Judea, he was a respected member of the Council, known as the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:42). Joseph was recognized for his integrity, having steered clear of the plot by the chief priests and Pharisees against Jesus. Lucas the Evangelist confirms that he did not participate in the Sanhedrin's proceedings that led to the condemnation of Jesus. Though he was a follower of Christ, he was discreet about his faith, fearing repercussions from the Sanhedrin, which threatened to excommunicate any open disciples of Jesus (John 19:38). Nevertheless, Joseph harbored a sincere belief in the coming Kingdom of God. Thus, he approached Pilate to request the body of Jesus for burial.

The authorities showed little concern for the burial of the condemned criminals, leaving it to their friends and families—if any existed—to inter them in unmarked graves. However, one significant individual took it upon himself to ensure the burial of Christ. He sought Pilate’s authorization to lay the Lord to rest according to his devotion and yearning. This man was Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and upright individual, well-known among the Sanhedrin. He was among the secret followers of Christ, who, despite holding sympathy for Him within their hearts, lacked the boldness to declare their faith openly due to their social standing. It was only after the devastating death of his Master that all fear vanished within him, prompting him to request Pilate's permission to handle the burial of Christ's body.

As the sun neared the horizon, the hour was upon them, estimated between three and six o'clock, which the Jewish people referred to as ערב - evening. With the great Sabbath drawing near, the Jews, desiring to observe its sanctity, were eager to ensure the crucified were not left hanging. Hence, once the legs of the two thieves were broken, confirming their deaths, the soldiers hastily removed their bodies from the crosses. It is likely that the same harsh hands of the soldiers, who had earlier affixed these bodies to the crosses, now roughly tore them down and cast them to the ground. Should there have been any devout individuals among the Jews, they would have quickly buried these bodies in designated graves meant for the executed.

At the close of that day (Matt. 27:57, Mk. 15:42), a man by the name of Joseph approached. Refer to the notes on Matthew 27:57-60 and Mark 15:42-46 for further details.

Following the confirmation of the crucified's death, the bodies were removed from the crosses to prevent them from desecrating the holy days. It is likely that the bodies of the thieves were interred at Golgotha. Two secret followers of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, took responsibility for the honorable burial of Jesus. Both were part of the Sanhedrin. The Gospel writer Mark refers to Joseph as "a prominent member of the council," while Luke describes him as a righteous and honest man who did not consent to the Sanhedrin's wrongful verdict against Christ. Joseph approached Pilate to request the body of Jesus for burial in a new tomb he had carved out for himself, located in his garden near Golgotha.