Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus

 

By Bishop Mettaous

 

Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man, it is mentioned

about him, “Now behold, there was a man named

Joseph, a council member, a good and just man”. (Luke

23:50), also “Now when evening had come, there came

a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who

himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.” (Matt.

27:57).

He was also a disciple of Jesus “After this, Joseph of

Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for

fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away

the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So

he came and took the body of Jesus”. (John 19:38),

when they arrested Jesus “He had not consented to their

decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of

the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom

of God”. (Luke 23:51).

His relation and love to Jesus was hidden, until it was

revealed on the cross, when he dared to ask for Jesus’

Body to bury Him. “So when he found out from the

centurion, he granted the body to Joseph”. (Mark

15:45), “and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn

out of the rock, and he rolled a large stone against the

door of the tomb, and departed.” (Matt. 27:60), “then

he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a

tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had

ever lain before.” (Luke 23:53)

It is taken for granted that this man believed and was

baptised and gained eternal life.

May the blessings of his prayers be with us. Amen.

Nicodemus:

A Greek name which means a ‘noble man’

He was a Pharisee, Chief Priest, and a member of the

Synhadrim Council. The Holy Bible describes him as “a

ruler of the Jews.” (John 3:1). He came to Jesus by

night and talked with Him about the spiritual second

birth, he was convinced and admired Lord Jesus. He

defended Jesus when the Pharisees attacked Him “Does

our law judge a man before it hears him and knows

what he is doing?” (John 7:51). His love to Lord Jesus

was clear when he shared Joseph in shrouding and

burying Jesus “And Nicodemus, who at first came to

Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh

and aloes, about a hundred pounds” (John 19:39),

which showed that he was very rich.

It is said that while Joseph and Nicodemus were burying

the Lord Jesus, they heard angels from heaven singing

“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Eternal” and they were

completing the praise with “who was crucified for our

sake, have mercy upon us”

May the blessings of their prayers be with us all. Amen.

||    Pope Shenouda    ||    Father Matta    ||    Bishop Mattaous    ||    Fr. Tadros Malaty    ||    Bishop Moussa    ||    Bishop Alexander    ||    Habib Gerguis    ||    Bishop Angealos    ||    Metropolitan Bishoy    ||