Holy Week: Friday evening when Jesus was buried.

When it was evening,

    there came a rich man. (Matthew 27:57)

That’s how Matthew describes him, “a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph.” Mark describes him as “a prominent member of the Council.” Luke adds “a good and righteous man.” John tells us that this rich and prominent and good man happened to be “a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews.” This secret disciple of Jesus does what only a rich and prominent man can do: “He gathers up the courage to go before Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus” (Mk10:43). He then provides a rich man’s tomb to lay the dead body of Jesus. 

Lugging the dead body of Jesus down from the cross and carrying it to a noble burial in a freshly hewn tomb with a stone entrance and getting it all done before sunset is no easy task. The disciples are nowhere to be found. Joseph will need help. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, came to help and along with the women they do the heavy lifting, cover his shame with linen cloths and lay the dead body of Jesus in a noble tomb.

Humans, even rich and prominent humans, have done what they could. Whatever else is to be done is now in God’s hands.