Describe the role of Joseph of Arimathea and the women in the Burial of Jesus

The roles of Joseph of Arimathea and the
women in the burial of Jesus:  

• When it was evening, there came a rich
  man from Arimathea, (named Joseph), who was a disciple of Jesus, 
•  He
  was a respected and upright member of the Jewish Council (Sanhedrin) and was
  looking for the kingdom of God. 
• At the trial of Jesus, he was said
  to be opposed to the action of the Sanhedrin in condemning Jesus, 
• After
  the crucifixion, he went to Pilate in the evening and asked for the body of
  Jesus, 
• He took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and laid it in his
  new tomb which he had hewn in the rock, 
• He rolled a great stone to
  the door of the tomb and departed.

The Women: 

•  There
  were also many women there looking on from afar who had followed Jesus from
  Galilee ministering to him. 
• Among them were, Mary Magdalene, Mary
  the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 
• There
  were aiso many other women who accompanied him to Jerusalem, 
• When
  the body of Jesus was later taken down from the cross and buried in the tomb,
  the women were around and knew the location of the tomb.

Significance of Joseph’s Action: 

1.  He
   was a true friend (a friend in need). 
2. He made up for the friendship denied
   Jesus by his enemies, 
3. It would be sad to allow Jesus’ body to be
   left hanging on the cross till the Sabbath day as if he were a common criminal, 
4. It would be worse still if it was left till the Passover night when
   the Paschal lamb was being slain,  
5. He could not allow Jesus’ body to be
   buried in a common burial place meant for criminals, 
6. As a mark of his
   faith in Jesus, he had to honour him by burying him in a new grave.