Of the countless disappointments Jesus endured during His Passion one of the most heartbreaking must have been knowing nearly all of His disciples had abandoned Him. His Mother was there as was John, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, wife of Clopas, but no one else. It was, simply, too dangerous. 

But, there were two very well connected men who believed in Jesus, had everything to lose and who did their best to try and help after Jesus had died. 

Joseph of Arimathea, a significant leader in the Jewish community who had come to believe in Jesus, did the unthinkable after His death. He went to see the man who killed Him, to ask to bury Him. His request was granted and he had Jesus placed in the tomb He would rise three days later. 

There are historical accounts that suggest Joseph was punished severely and sent to prison for this act. 

Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, all of whom except Nicodemus wanted Jesus dead. But, because he truly did love God, Nicodemus approached Jesus in secret and at night to find out more. In this exchange from John, Chapter 3, we hear Jesus as He teaches the teacher: 

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. 

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” 

Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” 

Nicodemus tries to get the other Pharisees to at least listen to Jesus before condemning Him but, obviously, they did not. 

He would come back to Jesus, after His death to help with Jesus’ burial, bringing one hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes. 

St. Joseph of Arimathea and St. Nicodemus, please pray for us.