Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, from the class of large landowners (the Ancients). Nothing is known of his family. He is a friend of Gamaliel and Nicodemus. He is a middle-aged man[1], generous and believer. His character is assertive. His sense of friendship is sincere and unprejudiced: unlike all his Sanhedrin colleagues, he continues to associate with Lazarus, on whom hangs the opprobrium cast by the notorious misconduct of his sister, Mary of Magdala.
He defends before this assembly the property of Simon the Zealot, whom he has known since his Childhood.[2] Indeed, Simon was ostracised because of his leprosy before Jesus the guérisse.
Joseph meets Jesus at the Temple when he chases away the merchants.[3]-[4] Despite the nascent hostility of the Sanhedrin, he does not hesitate to take a stand in his favor. To the Pharisees from Galilee who come denounce Jesus, he replies:"Whoever performs miracles has God with him. Whoever has God with him cannot be in sin: God the love."At his estate in Arimathea, he invites a few Sanhedrists to a banquet offered in honor of Jesus: reactions are varied.[5]
A moment, Jesus considers entrusting the evangelization of the powerful of Judea to a few notables: Lazarus, Nicodemus, Chouza ... This hope turns sour in the face of the Sanhedrin's hostility.[6]
Joseph distances himself from this assembly by displaying various public gestures:
- He sponsors young Margziam, adopted son of Peter at his reception as son of the Law (Bar-Mitsva).[7]
- On this occasion, he invites the apostolic group to his house in Jerusalem, near the probatic pool of Bezatha.
- During the trial of Eleazar, the son of Anna, rapist and Murderer, he defends justice like Nicodemus and Eleazar.[8]
- The Sanhedrin lays a trap urging Jesus to heal Sidonius, the born-blind man, on a shabbat day. Joseph foils the complot. Judas was an accomplice.[9]
Joseph's faith is not an appearance: he orders the fruits of his harvest in Arimathea to be distributed without counting to needy. his steward, Abraham, complains that there are too many beggars. Joseph responds with a leap of faith and orders the rations distributed to be doubled. The miracle of the multiplication of sheaves takes place.[10]
His living faith is assumed without fear: at the stormy Sanhedrin session following the resurrection of Lazarus[11], he clearly confesses his faith:-"He is God," he says, speaking of Jesus. He is God. If I still had any doubts..."Despite the aversion of the Jews to the Pagans, he takes under his protection Martial, a young orphan Roman taken in by Joseph of Sephoris.[13] Out of revenge against Joseph, the young child is killed during the Passion. The Passion marks his complete break with the Sanhedrin:
- "But you didn't. We know, Joseph."[12]
"From now on," he tells Great Priest Caiaphas, "know that Joseph the Elder is enemy of the Sanhedrin and friend of the Christ."[14]With Nicodemus, Joseph will ask Pilate for the body of the Crucified[15], helps unbuckle his limbs and lower him from the Crucifix.[16]
He provides his tombeau new to bury Jesus in[17], helps carry him there, cleans his body and puts the bands and Shroud on him (embalming).[18]
He is present until the sealing of the tomb and the return to the Cenacle[19], as well as the following days to support Mary, for example at her request, questioning to look for the soldier's spear that pierced Christ's heart.[20]
In order to avoid any desecration, after the Resurrection, he fences off the apple orchard where the tomb is located[21], Lazarus having done the same for the Gethsemane.[22]
On the Ascension, Jesus publicly pays tribute to his courage by inviting him to his side along with a few others of the same calibre:
"You, Lazarus, my friend. You, Joseph, and you, Nicodemus, were full of pity for Christ when it could have been a great danger."[23]
After the Ascension, Joseph comes with Lazarus to announce to the Virgin Mary that she will now be able to live with John in the little house at Gethsemane. This is the former home of the keeper of the olive grove Jonah of Gethsemane and his wife Mary. Indeed, knowing his need for solitude, Lazarus offers it to him.[24]
His name
Joseph (Iosseph - Iehosseph) יוסף means "May God add!". Historical reference: Jacob's eleventh son, whom he had by Rachel. This preferred son was sold by his brothers and became Pharaoh's steward.
Where is this mentioned in the work?
EMV 53 EMV 85
EMV 113 EMV 114 EMV 116 EMV 133 EMV 141 EMV 197 EMV 198
EMV 201 EMV 264 EMV 282 EMV 283
EMV 334 EMV 364 EMV 365 EMV 376 EMV 378
EMV 408 EMV 409 EMV 410 EMV 464 EMV 481 EMV 492
EMV 505 EMV 509 EMV 541 EMV 542 EMV 545 EMV 546 EMV 548 EMV 549 EMV 550 EMV 560 EMV 566 EMV 581 EMV 584 EMV 585 EMV 588 EMV 589 < Joseph of Arimathea on March 17.According to legend[25], he is said to have brought to England, the Holy Grail.[26] Tradition also has him coming to Gaul following the family of Bethany.[27] He is said to have been honored in Arles, as early as the first century, under the name of Saint Trophime.[28]
Eusebius of Caesarea and St. Jerome, identify the village of Arimathea with Ramah of Samuel in the region of Ephraim (Ramataim). This is the home of the prophet. He is buried there.[29] Today it is the town of Rantis.
Notes and references
- ↑ EMV 510
- ↑ EMV 114
- ↑ John 2,13-21.
- ↑ EMV 53
- ↑ EMV 114
- ↑ EMV 116
- ↑ EMV 201
- ↑ EMV 376
- ↑ EMV 510
- ↑ EMV 408
- ↑ EMV 548
- ↑ EMV 549.7
- ↑ EMV 550
- ↑ EMV 604
- ↑ EMV 609.26-31
- ↑ EMV 609.32
- ↑ EMV 609.34
- ↑ EMV 610.15
- ↑ EMV 611
- ↑ EMV 614.6
- ↑ EMV 632.12
- ↑ EMV 631.12
- ↑ EMV 638.19
- ↑ EMV 642
- ↑ Robert de Boron, Estoire dou Graal or Joseph of Arimathea (Romans de la table ronde), 1190 and 1199.
- ↑ Holy Grail: vase said to have been used at the Last Supper and on Calvary to receive the blood of Christ.
- ↑ Raban Maur (9th century), Vie de la bienheureuse Marie-Madeleine.
- ↑ Georges Martin, Le graal en Provence, 1999, page 33.
- ↑ André-Marie Gérard, Dictionnaire de la Bible, 2003.