The Quiet Courage of Joseph of Arimathea

When Conviction Costs You Everything

By Rob Riesmeyer, Elder

When you think of the pivotal moments in history, it’s often the bold speeches, the loud protests, the heroes who charge into the fray. But sometimes, real courage doesn’t shout. It whispers. It works quietly, behind the scenes, when everyone else turns away.

Joseph of Arimathea was one of those rare souls. His name might not be shouted from pulpits every Sunday, and he doesn’t headline most sermons or make the children's Bible storybook circuit. But his role in the final act of Jesus’ earthly life was profound, shaping the resurrection story and leaving behind a legacy that still speaks today.

This isn’t just a story for the religious or the familiar church crowd. It’s a human story. One about doing the right thing when it’s risky. About staying clean in a corrupt system. About integrity, conviction, and what it looks like to show up when no one else will.

Who Was Joseph of Arimathea?

We don’t know a ton about Joseph. He wasn’t one of the twelve disciples. He wasn’t a famous preacher or miracle-worker. What we do know comes in sharp, meaningful details across the four Gospels. Joseph was a wealthy man. He was a member of the Sanhedrin—the Jewish ruling council that held religious and political sway in Jerusalem.

But more importantly, Scripture tells us that he was a “good and righteous man” (Luke 23:50). He was “waiting for the kingdom of God” (Mark 15:43). He wasn’t content with how the world was. He was longing for something better.

Joseph was a man of quiet conviction in a world of religious bureaucracy and political compromise. That conviction would be tested in the most public and painful way.

The Crucifixion: A Nation Turns, and So Does the Council

By the time Jesus was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death, the religious leaders had already made up their minds. The Sanhedrin had convened. Witnesses were brought forward. Charges were twisted, manipulated, and pushed through in the dark. It wasn’t justice. It was expediency.

But not everyone in the room agreed.

Luke 23:51 gives us a crucial insight:

“He had not consented to their decision and action.”

That one line sets Joseph apart. In a council where mob mentality had taken hold, Joseph stood apart. He didn’t vote to condemn Jesus. Whether he abstained, dissented outright, or refused to go along, we don’t know. But we do know this: he didn’t play along with injustice.

And that’s no small thing. When your peers are screaming for a crucifixion, it takes grit to stand still.

Why It Mattered

Let’s step back for a moment.

The trial of Jesus wasn’t just a courtroom drama—it was a political powder keg. The Romans were on edge, nervous about rebellions during Passover. The Jewish leaders were desperate to maintain control. And Jesus had disrupted the status quo in ways that made everyone uncomfortable—calling out hypocrisy, upending traditions, and drawing crowds.

So when Joseph refused to consent, he put a target on his back. It would’ve been far easier to keep quiet, nod along, and let Rome handle it.

But Joseph, a wealthy and influential man, chose principle over protection.

The Tomb and the Risk

After Jesus was crucified, most of His followers disappeared. The loudest voices—Peter, James, John—were in hiding. Fear had silenced the faithful.

But Joseph? He walked straight into the heart of Roman power.

Mark 15:43 says Joseph went “boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.” That word—boldly—carries weight. It wasn’t customary for just anyone to request the body of an executed criminal. It was dangerous. The body of someone crucified as an enemy of the state was considered cursed. Touching it could make you ceremonially unclean, politically suspect, or worse.

But Joseph didn’t send a servant. He didn’t wait for the dust to settle. He showed up, in broad daylight, and asked for Jesus.

He then wrapped the body in clean linen and laid it in his own new tomb—a place carved from solid rock, likely meant for his own family’s burial. This wasn’t a borrowed graveyard plot. It was a personal and permanent gift, offered when Jesus seemed like nothing more than a tragic memory.

What Was Joseph Hoping For?

That’s the kicker. At this moment in the story, there was no resurrection yet. There was no Easter morning. No empty tomb. As far as Joseph knew, this was the end.

So why go to the trouble?

Why risk your reputation?Why associate yourself with a condemned man?Why give your burial place to someone who’d been publicly disgraced?

For Joseph, doing the right thing wasn’t about recognition. It wasn’t about reward. It was about honoring Jesus, even in death. It was about a quiet kind of faith that isn’t looking for a miracle but does what’s right because it’s right.

That kind of faith is rare. And real.

Lessons from Joseph’s Story

Joseph’s actions speak loudly to all of us—whether you sit in a church pew every Sunday or haven’t stepped foot in a sanctuary in years.

Here’s what his life can teach us:

1. You Can Be Righteous in a Broken System

Joseph was part of the Sanhedrin—a deeply flawed institution at the time. But he didn’t let the corruption around him dictate his choices. He stayed clean. That’s possible. And powerful.

2. Courage Often Looks Quiet

He didn’t lead a revolution. He didn’t preach to the crowds. But when it counted, he acted. Real courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s as simple as showing up when everyone else walks away.

3. Faith Doesn’t Always See the Outcome

Joseph didn’t know the resurrection was coming. He wasn’t placing a bet. He did the right thing in a dark hour. That’s the kind of faith that holds when everything else falls apart.

4. Your Influence Matters

Joseph had access to Pilate. He had a tomb to give. He had a voice that carried weight. And he used all of that for good. You may not be wealthy or politically connected, but you do have influence—use it to lift others, especially when they can’t lift themselves.

5. God Uses the Willing, Not Just the Famous

Joseph wasn’t part of Jesus’ inner circle. But his faithfulness earned him a place in the resurrection story. You don’t have to be center stage to matter in God’s story.

What About Us?

We live in a culture that still crucifies the innocent—if not with nails, then with gossip, indifference, judgment, or silence. And sometimes, doing the right thing still costs you.

It costs you friends.It costs you comfort.It costs you influence.

But the world doesn’t need more people who follow the crowd. It requires more Josephs—people who resist quietly, serve faithfully, and act boldly when the moment comes.

And that quiet faithfulness will roll the stone away for someone else.

Want to Reflect Further?

Ask yourself:

• Where am I tempted to stay silent when I should speak up?

• What resources or influence do I have that could honor Christ?

• Am I willing to follow Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense?

  
  

Closing Thought

Joseph of Arimathea reminds us that faith isn’t just something we preach — it’s something we live. In the boardroom. In the voting booth. In the kitchen. In the funeral home. In the back rooms where decisions are made, and in the tombs where hope seems dead.

He was there when everyone else left.He showed up when all seemed lost.He made space for a body, not knowing that space would soon be empty.

And in doing so, he helped rewrite history.

May we do the same?