Joseph's care for Jesus' body raises an emotion in side me that can not accurately be explained. 

On further study, Joseph is described as a member of the high council.  He was a wealthy, Jewish man from Arimathea, and secretly followed Jesus, Matthew 27:57.

According to abarim-publications.com, the name Joseph means "repeater".  What stood out to me in reading the summary was the parallel between Jesus’ burial to that of His birth.  Joseph of Arimathea representing Mary's husband, Joseph-the stepfather of Jesus, who represented God, as the earthly father who loved and cared for Jesus.  Joseph, Mary's husband was at the birth of Jesus; Joseph of Arimathea was at the burial of Jesus.  

Also repetitive is the care of the body of Jesus-the ointment of myrrh and aloes, wrapping His body in long sheets (strips) of linen cloth with spices, John 20:39-40. In Luke 2:12, Jesus, at His birth, was wrapped in strips of cloth.  And in Matthew 2:11, the men from the east brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

Additionally, the place of burial is similar to Jesus place of birth.  Upon Jesus' death, Joseph of Arimathea took His body to his own tomb he had purchased.  The tomb, which had never been used, was carved out of a rock, Matthew 27:60.  Compare this to Jesus' birth; He was conceived in the womb of a virgin, and at His birth in a stable, He was placed in a manger.  The notes in the LASB, Luke 2:7 describes the stable as a cave and the manger (feeding trough) carved into the rock walls.

Finally, Mary was obviously present at Jesus' birth and at His death and burial.

The birth of Christ reads to be synonymous with His death; His birth was His death and His death was His birth.  I am sure there are more things to consider when thinking about the acts of Joseph of Arimathea.  But knowing about his love expressed in the burial of Jesus illustrates the care and attention to detail God has in our births and in our deaths; an act of God that He "repeats" in welcoming His children home.  I am humbled.