What does Mark 15:43 mean?
"Member of the council" means Joseph is a member of the Sanhedrin, though we don't know if he is an elder or a scribe, a Pharisee or a Sadducee. Matthew mentions that He is rich (Matthew 27:57). Luke says that he is "a good and righteous man" who disagrees with the Sanhedrin's effort to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50–51). John points out that while Joseph does follow Jesus, he does so secretly in fear that other members of the Sanhedrin will find out (John 19:38). The location of Arimathea is uncertain but is thought to lie about twenty miles northwest of Jerusalem. We aren't told why, if Joseph lives so far away, he owns a burial tomb just outside of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:59–60)."Took courage" is from the Greek root word tolmao. It has somewhat contradictory definitions in that it can mean to be bold or to build up one's courage. If the other members of the Sanhedrin find out what Joseph is doing, there's no telling what will happen to him. In addition, Roman law encourages that the body of someone who is executed should be further humiliated by being left to the animals instead of properly buried. Pilate would be culturally justified to leave Jesus on the cross, although if a relative asks for the body, the governing authority usually agrees. Still, people who are executed for high treason are usually left to the elements, and Jesus' charge is that He is King of the Jews in defiance of Caesar (Mark 15:26). Pilate would not release Jesus' body if he truly believed Jesus was guilty of treason.
Joseph needs to work quickly. Not only because carrying and burying Jesus' body is a work he cannot do during the coming Sabbath, but because of the nature of Jesus' death. The Mosaic law states that hanging on a tree is a curse, and Jews extend that interpretation to including hanging on a cross. The man is already cursed, but if he is not buried that day, the entire land shares in his curse (Deuteronomy 21:22–23).
Mark 15:42–47 occurs after Jesus has died, after six hours on the cross. His death is confirmed by a soldier who pierces His side with a spear, allowing blood and water to drain out onto the ground (John 19:33–34). Roman tradition would be to leave His body on the cross to be food for the birds, especially since He was technically crucified for treason. But Jewish law states leaving a hanged man overnight is a curse on the land (Deuteronomy 21:22–23), and a secret disciple has an unused tomb nearby. Jesus' burial is also recorded in Matthew 27:57–61, Luke 23:50–56, and John 19:38–42.
After sham trials, Jesus is taken to the local Roman governor, Pilate. This is the only person in Jerusalem with the legal authority to have Jesus executed. Pilate is not fooled, and he attempts to arrange for Jesus' release. But the ruler's ploys fail, in part because Jesus will not defend Himself, and partly because the mob is intent on His death. Pilate offers a prisoner exchange in Barabbas, and even has Jesus brutally beaten in order to pacify the crowd. Eventually, he caves in and Jesus is crucified. Thanks to His prior abuse, Jesus survives only a few hours on the cross before dying. Jesus is then buried in a tomb belonging to a secret follower among the Jerusalem council.
