A Good And Righteous Man

"A Good And Righteous Man" – Matthew 27:57 “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.” Luke describes him as “a good and righteous man”, a member of the council who had not consented to their plan and action against Jesus. He had been a disciple in secret, out of fear; but at the decisive moment he went boldly to Pilate, asked for the Master's body, took Him down from the cross with his own hands and laid Him in the new tomb he had carved out for himself. Nicodemus, who before had come only by night, also stepped into the light, bringing a hundred pounds of spices. When it seemed everything was over, God still had people prepared to act: while others hid, Joseph appeared; while others watched, Joseph acted. The study walks through Matthew 27:57, Mark 15:43, Luke 23:50-51 and John 19:38-40, and closes with the Lord's Supper.

I. Who Joseph of Arimathea was.

A. He was key in the events immediately following the death of Jesus.

1. All four Gospels mention him.

2. Arimathea is not his surname: it is his town, a settlement of Judea.

B. He was a rich man, a respected member of the Jewish council.

1. He belonged to the religious elite, that leadership still recognizable in Israel today.

2. We, by contrast, are the people of grace.

C. He was a disciple of Jesus, but in silence, like Nicodemus, who came by night.

1. They kept their faith discreetly out of fear, because they could be killed.

2. He said: He is my Savior, and I will give Him the tomb I made for myself.

II. A good and righteous man (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50-51).

A. “He gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.”

1. Will they give it, or will they kill us with Him? God silenced them in a miraculous way.

B. “A good and righteous man… who had not consented to their plan and action.”

1. Are such qualities used to describe anyone today? We rather find fault with everyone.

2. One must be good and must be righteous; stop playing the angel — the angels are writing.

C. The whole people went out to celebrate the crucifixion, except the righteous.

1. Mary had the feelings of a mother whose son is being killed.

2. Jesus, at the worst moment, remembered her and entrusted her to John.

III. The courage of Joseph.

A. He had courage when others were afraid.

1. Before he was a reserved disciple; at the decisive moment he declared it publicly.

2. If you want to be called good and righteous, begin to be good and righteous.

B. Pilate granted him the body without argument.

1. Pilate knew Jesus was righteous, because his wife had believed in Him.

C. Taking Him down from the cross was no easy thing for a man of his age and standing.

1. “This moment is mine, and no one takes it from me.”

2. He wrapped Him in a clean cloth and laid Him in his new tomb, carved in the rock.

3. As God likes to work two by two, Nicodemus joined Joseph.

IV. Faith that stops being silent (John 19:38).

A. A moment may come when our faith must stop being silent.

1. When everyone abandoned Jesus, Joseph said by his actions: I belong to Him.

2. The one who was hidden becomes known.

B. Even his tomb ended up serving God's purpose.

1. Jesus was there only a short time, because on the third day He rose.

2. Joseph provided the Messiah that three-day service.

V. There came a rich man (Matthew 27:57).

A. “When it was evening”: the body had to be dealt with before the Sabbath began.

1. When it seemed everything was over, God had people prepared to act.

B. “There came a man”: Joseph did not merely watch; he came, drew near and acted.

1. In difficult moments we learn who is willing to step forward.

2. He appeared when Jesus could no longer offer him fame, position or benefit.

C. “A rich man”: it connects the burial with Isaiah 53:9, about the suffering servant.

1. His wealth became an instrument of service.

D. “Who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus”: Joseph belonged to the Master.

1. He was not one of the twelve, but when the moment to serve came, he was available.

2. While Judas sold Him, God was activating a good and righteous man.

3. While others hid, Joseph appeared; while others watched, Joseph acted.

VI. Nicodemus steps into the light (John 19:39-40).

A. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, and before had come by night.

1. He knew persecution and hard circumstances would follow.

B. Now he appears publicly with a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes.

1. It is an enormous outlay; many would call it waste.

2. The one who first sought Jesus by night appears when others hid.

C. Each served with what he had: Joseph the tomb, Nicodemus the spices.

1. They prepared and honored the body according to the burial custom.

VII. There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

A. Joseph's time came, and Nicodemus' time came.

1. There is a time to learn of Jesus in secret.

2. But a moment comes when faith must be seen in our actions.

3. Your actions tell what your life describes and what Jesus is in you.

B. They gathered Christ's body when He no longer worked miracles, and did not lose heart.

1. They had no sacred book: they had a spark, and that spark was passion.

2. A passion soaked in love, and that love moved them to act.

C. There is a Christ who died, rose again and is at the right hand of the Father.

1. To mock is to despise, and they mocked Him to the very end.

2. And do you not take Him to the cross every time you sin?