Joseph of Arimathea

Drawing of Joseph of Arimathea by Lorenzo Ferri Salton according to the indications of Maria Valtorta. Source: documentary collection of the Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation.

Joseph is a member of the Sanhedrin, from the class of large landowners (the Elders). Nothing is known about his possible Family. He is a friend of Gamaliel and Nicodemus. He is a man of mature Age, generous and believing. His character is strong. His sense of friendship is sincere and without prejudice: unlike all his colleagues in the Sanhedrin, he continues to associate with Lazarus, who bears the disgrace cast by the notorious misconduct of his sister, Mary of Magdala (Magdalene).

He defends before this assembly the property of Simon the Zealot (Apostle), whom he has known since their childhood. Indeed, Simon had been sidelined because of his leprosy before Jesus healed him.

Joseph confronts Jesus at the Temple when he drives out the merchants.- Despite the Sanhedrin’s growing hostility, he does not hesitate to take a stand in his Confession. To the Pharisees from Galilee who come to denounce Jesus, he replies:

"He who performs miracles has God with him. He who has God with him cannot be in sin: God loves him."

At his estate in Arimathea, he invites some Sanhedrin members to a Banquet offered in honor of Jesus: reactions vary.

At one point, Jesus plans to entrust the evangelization of the powerful of Judea to some notables: Lazarus, Nicodemus, Chuza … This hope is short-lived due to the hostility of the Sanhedrin.

Joseph distances himself from this assembly by making various public gestures:

• He sponsors the young Marjiam (Martial, Jabez), adopted son of Peter, at his acceptance as a son of the Law (Bar Mitzvah).
• On this occasion, he invites the apostolic group to his house in Jerusalem, near the Pool of Bethesda.
• During the trial of Eleazar, the son of Annas, rapist and murderer, he defends justice alongside Nicodemus and Eleazar.
• The Sanhedrin sets a trap to push Jesus to heal Sidonia, the cripple born cripple, on a Sabbath day. Joseph foils the plot. Judas was an accomplice.

Joseph’s faith is not a facade: he commands the distribution without counting to needy people the fruits of his Arimathea harvest. Abraham, his steward, complains: there are too many beggars. Joseph answers him with an act of faith and orders the ration to be doubled. The miracle of the multiplication of sheaves takes place.

His living faith is assumed without fear: during the stormy session of the Sanhedrin following the resurrection of Lazarus, he openly confesses his faith:

- "He is God," he says speaking of Jesus. "He is God. If I still had Doubts..."
- "But you did not. We know that, Joseph."

Despite the Jews’ aversion to Gentiles, he takes under his Protection Martial, a young Roman orphan taken in by Joseph and Mary of Sephoris. Out of revenge against Joseph, the young child is killed during the Passion. The Passion marks his complete break with the Sanhedrin:

"From now on," he says to High Priest Caiaphas, "know that Joseph the Elder is an enemy of the Sanhedrin and a friend of the Christ."

With Nicodemus, Joseph goes to ask Pilate for the body of the Crucified, helps to unfasten his limbs and to take him down from the Cross.

He provides his new tomb to bury Jesus in, helps to carry him there, to clean his body and to wrap the bands and the Shroud (anointing).
He is present until the sealing of the tomb and the return to the Cenacle, as well as in the following days to support Mary, for example, at her request, by investigating to find the soldier’s lance that pierced the Heart of Christ.
To prevent any desecration, he closes off, after the Resurrection, the orchard where the tomb is located, Lazarus having done the same for the Gethsemane.

At the Ascension, Jesus publicly pays tribute to his courage by inviting him to his side with a few others of the same ilk:

"You, Lazarus, my friend. You, Joseph, and you, Nicodemus, were full of compassion for Christ when it could have been a great danger."

After the Ascension, Joseph comes with Lazarus to announce to the Virgin Mary that she may now live with John in the small house of Gethsemane. It is the former house of the caretaker of the olive grove, Jonah of Gethsemane, and his Woman Mary. Indeed, knowing her need for solitude, Lazarus offers it to her.

His name

Joseph (Iosseph - Iehosseph) יוסף means "May God add!". Historical reference: the eleventh son of Jacob by Rachel. This beloved son was sold by his brothers and became Pharaoh’s steward.

Where is he mentioned in the work?

GRM 53 GRM 85
GRM 113 GRM 114 GRM 116 GRM 133 GRM 141 GRM 197 GRM 198
GRM 201 GRM 264 GRM 282 GRM 283
GRM 334 GRM 364 GRM 365 GRM 376 GRM 378
GRM 408 GRM 409 GRM 410 GRM 464 GRM 481 GRM 492
GRM 505 GRM 509 GRM 510 GRM 511 GRM 538 GRM 541 GRM 542 GRM 545 GRM 546 GRM 548 GRM 549 GRM 550 GRM 560 GRM 566 GRM 581 GRM 584 GRM 585 GRM 588 GRM 589
GRM 604 GRM 609 GRM 610 GRM 611 GRM 623 GRM 630 GRM 631 GRM 635 GRM 638 GRM 641 GRM 642 GRM 644 GRM 645

Learn more about this character

Excerpts from the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, According to Maria Valtorta (Msgr. René Laurentin, François-Michel Debroise, Jean-François Lavère, Éditions Salvator, 2012):

The Church celebrates Saint Joseph of Arimathea on March 17.

Salton the legend, he would have brought the Holy Grail to England. Tradition also has him come to Gaul following the Family of Bethany. He was honored in Arles as early as the first century, under the name of Saint Trophimus.

Eusebius of Caesarea and Saint Jerome identify the village of Arimathea with Ramah (Judea) of Samuel in the region of Ephraim (Ramah (Judea)taim). It is the Homeland of the prophet. He is buried there. It is today the city of Rantis.

Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.

Place located in Jerusalem where Jesus celebrated Passover with his Apostles and instituted the Eucharist on the eve of his death (from Latin cenaculum: dining room). This place became the first Church at the request of the Virgin Mary.