The Burial of Christ John 19:38-42 1
The Burial of Jesus 38.And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39.And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 2
The Burial of Jesus 40.Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41.Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42.There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. 3
Joseph of Arimathaea Matt 27:57 - When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: Mark 15:43 - Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 4
Joseph of Arimathaea Luke 23:50-51 - And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. John 19:38 - And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 5
Nicodemus John 19:39 - And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Grk. litras - litra (or Roman pound) was equal to 327 grams or about 11.5 ounces 327g x 100 = 32,700g ~ 72 lbs (ESV - 75 pounds) 6
Counting the Cost Luke 14:28,33 - For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? [...] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 7
Counting the Cost Num 19:11 - He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. Put out of the Sanhedrin? Cut off completely from the people? Jail time? 8
Preparation of the Body John 19:40 - Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 9
Jew s Burial Practices Deut 21:22-23 - And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 10
Jew s Burial Practices Burials typically performed 1-2 days after death Dead bodies are unclean, but the dead are to be honored properly Bodies are to be buried, not burned (idols are burned) Tombs are typically outside the city walls (because the dead are unclean ) 11
Jew s Burial Practices Bodies are washed and anointed with oils and spices Bodies are then wrapped in linen clothing containing more spices Bodies are placed in shelves in tomb for decomposition In the Jewish mind, the sinful nature is in the flesh, so decomposition is a good thing After a year, the bones are gathered into ossuaries 12
Jew s Burial Practices Ossuary - a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains 13
Jew s Burial Practices Ossuary - a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains 14
Jew s Burial Practices 2 Samuel 21:12-14 - And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa: And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land. 15
Preparation of the Body John 19:40 - Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 16
Scripture Fulfilled Isaiah 53:9 - And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death... 17
God s Remnant 1 Kings 19:10,14 - And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 1 Kings 19:18 - Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 18
Garden Tomb John 19:41 - Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 19
Garden Tomb Discovered by Charles Gordon in the 1880s. Measures 14ft x 10ft x 7.5ft Only one of the two graves inside appear to have been used. No signs of decomposition. 20
Where Did He Go? Did Jesus go to hell? Acts 2:31 - He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Grk. hades - corresponds to the OT Sheol (the grave, place of the dead); often referred to as going down to it 21
Where Did He Go? 1 Peter 3:18-19 - For Christ [...] quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Eph 4:8-9 - Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 22
Important? Is Christ s burial important? 1 Cor 15:3-4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 23
The Burial of Christ John 19:38-42 24