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(Lev.21:1; Numbers 19:11ff). Between the two commandments
he opted for the later. He touched the corpse of the one who is
the Lord of Sabbath.

Joseph the Disciple
The Gospel writers present Joseph of Arimathea as
a secret disciple of Jesus. He arrives on the scene in a crucial
moment. When those who publicly followed Jesus abandoned
Jesus, even the eleven disciples left, at this critical moment he
was the only one there to do something for the lord. When no
one was there, this secret disciple with courage steps in to put an
honourable end to the crucified. In any case, doing something
in the eleventh hour could also make some difference to the
situation. We do not see him making any public assertion in
the entire earthly ministry of Jesus. But this minor presence
has great significance in the history of Christianity. This
event confirms the death of Jesus. We may read the baptismal
experience connected to burial in Paul (Romans 6:4/ 1 Cori.15:
3-6), and which later develops in to the Creed.

Joseph the Richman

Matthew refers to him as a rich man. It can be expected
as he owned a tomb in that town. Or Mathew wanted to relate
Jesus event to Isaiah 53:9 which reads: “he was buried like a
criminal, but in a rich man’s cave.” The rich man Joseph offers
his wealth, the tomb in the city, offered `that the body of Jesus
may be kept there.

Joseph the Official
Joseph was a prominent member of the Jewish council.
Luke reports that he did not agree to the actions and decisions
of the council. He did his best by not consenting to their actions
and decisions.

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People