Note 1 at Mr 15:43: There is no mention of this Joseph elsewhere in Scripture; therefore, the information given about him here is all we know for sure. He was from Arimathaea, which is the Greek equivalent of Ramah--possibly the Ramah that is approximately twenty miles northwest of Jerusalem. He was a rich man (Mt 27:57), which fulfilled the prophecy of Isa 53:9.

The term "counsellor," used by Mark and Luke to describe Joseph, identifies him as a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. However, Luke made it clear that Joseph did not consent to the condemnation of Jesus by the Sanhedrin in the mock trial before Caiaphas (Lu 23:51). Since Mr 14:64 says, "they all [speaking of the Sanhedrin] condemned him to be guilty of death" (brackets mine), it is possible that Joseph and Nicodemus were not summoned to this trial, because the council knew of their belief in Jesus.

Joseph was a godly man who was waiting for the kingdom of God and is also described as a disciple of Jesus (Mt 27:57), although secretly because of a fear of the Jews (Joh 19:38). Mark said he went in boldly, though, to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

After receiving Jesus' body from Pilate, Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, located in a garden very close to where Jesus was crucified (Joh 19:41). The tomb was hewn out of rock and had a stone that rolled in front of the opening that was used for a door.