Matthew 27:57-61 Mark 15:42-47 Luke 23:52-56 John 19:31-42
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57 When
it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who
himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This
man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to
be given to him. 59 And
Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 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. 61 And
Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.
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42 When
evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the
day before the Sabbath, 43 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. 44 Pilate wondered if He was dead
by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He
was already dead. 45 And ascertaining this from the
centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 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. 47 Mary
Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to
see where He was laid.
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50 And
a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous
man 51 (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; 52 this
man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 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. 54 It
was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 Now
the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and
how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared
spices and perfumes.
And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. |
31 Then
the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not
remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked
Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might
be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke
the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but
coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break
His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced
His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And
he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that
he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For
these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM
SHALL BE BROKEN.” 37 And again another Scripture
says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”
38 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. 39 Nicodemus,
who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So
they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices,
as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 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. 42 Therefore
because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they
laid Jesus there.
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Since
Jesus was crucified
Since
Jesus was crucified on the day before a mandatory sabbath rest, it was
important for the Jews to make sure the crucifixion was complete, and the
bodies removed by the time the sun set.
These details are important to demonstrate why there was the rush to
finish the crucifixion and to demonstrate that Jesus had truly died. In order for there to be a resurrection, there
must be a death. This was clearly proven
by the events that take place on and around the cross.
THE DEATH OF JESUS IS VERIFIED: The Jewish leaders requested
that the legs of the men who were crucified be broken so their deaths would
come faster. Those who are crucified die
of affixation. In order to be able to
breathe, the must push up with their legs.
When the legs were broken, they were no longer able to do this and would
essentially stop being able to breathe.
The legs of the two thieves were broken so they would die. However, when they came to break the legs of
Jesus, they found He was already dead.
The verified that he was dead by piercing His body with a spear. When then did this, blood and water flowed
out of His side which was further proof that He had died. Not breaking a bone and piercing His side,
were two prophecies made about Messiah.
Jesus fulfilled every one of these prophesies. His death bought our forgiveness and His
death was sure.
THE BODY OF JESUS IS REQUESTED: Joseph of Arimathea and Nikodemus,
the Pharisee who came to Jesus by night, take it upon themselves to bury the
body of Jesus. Joseph seems to be a
wealth man who had a tomb carved out as a family burring place decides to place
the body of Jesus in this tomb. Nikodemus
sees to have been genuinely “born again” as he now has the courage to clearly
identify himself as a follower of Jesus.
These men show great courage as well as love for the Lord as they risk
their lives to care for the body of Jesus.
At the request of the body, Pilate is amazed that Jesus is already
dead. I wonder if Pilate, in the back of
his mind, expected some sort of miracle from Jesus that would have saved His
life. Pilate asks for verification of
the death of Jesus and upon receiving it, grants that Joseph be given the rights
to care for His body. Acts of love and
courage are important testimonies in our lives.
We will all face times where identifying ourselves with Christ and
demonstrating love for the Lord will put us at risk. We must demonstrate courage during these
times.
THE BURIAL OF JESUS IS TESTIFIED: Joseph and Nikodemus did not
do this job in secret. There were other
people who testified the burial of Jesus.
Women watched as they wrapped His body and Nikodemus brought spices and
they placed Him in the tomb. The women
went back home to rest on the Sabbath and then would prepare spices to place on
His body on Sunday. They wanted to see
where His body was so they could further care for it. In so doing, they her testimonies to His burial. The more people who see Him buried, the more
authority we have to demonstrate the truth of the resurrection. God has all these things under control and has
gone to great extremes to redeem humanity.
May we respond to His care and grace.
APPLICATION: Be assured that the death of Christ was real
and that it paid the price for your sins and the sins of the world. The Romans were experts at killing people, and
they did their job, however Jesus gave His own life and the Father took it so
that we could have eternal life. In
moments of danger and distress, God would have us respond with courage and
love. Don’t allow the fear of men to rob
us of the joy of loving God.
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