Jesus is Buried in the Tomb
Matthew 27:57-60
57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
John 19:38-42
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
John 19:38-42
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Reading
The two secret men of Jesus came to take his body. Joseph of Arimathea, who was a council member but did not agree with the crucifixion, went to Pilate to ask to take Jesus’ body. And so he did. Joseph was secretly a disciple of Jesus, and wanted beyond anything else to at least make sure that his body was safe. Nicodemus, Jesus’ secret friend from the nighttime visit, joined him. They wrapped Jesus’ body and Nicodemus brought aloe and myrrh to bury him. They took him to the tomb, and buried him there.
The finality of his death rang throughout Jerusalem as the stone rolled into place. The disciples were scattered and scared. Leaderless and hopeless, they clung to the walls of the alleys, fearing capture by the religious leaders, or anyone who may have recognized them.
The Sanhedrin was in high spirits. Their thorn was gone, and they could continue to conduct business as usual. The people would know that this Jesus was a fraud, and that they were truly the ones with power. And Jerusalem….some slept as always. Some ignored the events. Some tried to tell about it, but couldn’t find the words, or the heart. Perhaps some were awakened. Perhaps they saw who Jesus was. Perhaps they were waiting…as we are this Friday evening, for something miraculous to happen…
The two secret men of Jesus came to take his body. Joseph of Arimathea, who was a council member but did not agree with the crucifixion, went to Pilate to ask to take Jesus’ body. And so he did. Joseph was secretly a disciple of Jesus, and wanted beyond anything else to at least make sure that his body was safe. Nicodemus, Jesus’ secret friend from the nighttime visit, joined him. They wrapped Jesus’ body and Nicodemus brought aloe and myrrh to bury him. They took him to the tomb, and buried him there.
The finality of his death rang throughout Jerusalem as the stone rolled into place. The disciples were scattered and scared. Leaderless and hopeless, they clung to the walls of the alleys, fearing capture by the religious leaders, or anyone who may have recognized them.
The Sanhedrin was in high spirits. Their thorn was gone, and they could continue to conduct business as usual. The people would know that this Jesus was a fraud, and that they were truly the ones with power. And Jerusalem….some slept as always. Some ignored the events. Some tried to tell about it, but couldn’t find the words, or the heart. Perhaps some were awakened. Perhaps they saw who Jesus was. Perhaps they were waiting…as we are this Friday evening, for something miraculous to happen…
Prayer & Meditation
Take this time to meditate and pray.
Take this time to meditate and pray.