Life of Christ – Part 19 – The Crucifixion and Burial(10) – Jesus is Buried

Text: Matthew 27:57-61

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

Text: Mark 15:42-47

When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.

Text: Luke 23:50-56

And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.

And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Text: John 19:38-42

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The two religious leaders that would have stood for Jesus the most now simply have only to basically pick up the pieces.  Joseph of Arimathea is a fairly rich man and it is believed it is his tomb that Jesus is laid because it is nearby and Joseph and Nicodemus both take care of the body.

In large part the taking care of Jesus body is a rush job.  This is largely due to the Sabbath coming and it is a high day because of being Passover as well.  This means they had to rush the preparation and you get the feeling that the women and the two men realized this.  The things they do are to wrap the body in cloth and put some burial spices to deal with the death smell.  The put the body in a tomb because it requires no digging as it is already prepared.

What seem to be indicated by all the passages was that they were making plans that after the Sabbath was over they would return and do a proper job of preparing the body later.  You also get the idea that perhaps the tomb Jesus was laid was also not a permanent situation as well.  There is definitely an idea that it was going to be necessary to return to the tomb after the Sabbath.  At the time of Jesus death, necessity rules not being truly caring so things are perfect.

Next: The Guard at the Tomb