Chapter 10: The Burial

It was late Friday afternoon. Jewish law required burial before sunset, and the Sabbath was approaching. Someone had to act quickly.

A man named Joseph stepped forward. He was from the town of Arimathea and was a member of the Sanhedrin. But Luke records that he had not agreed with their decision. He had been a secret disciple, and now, with Jesus dead, he went to Pilate and asked for the body.

Pilate confirmed that Jesus was already dead and released the body to him.

Joseph was not alone. Nicodemus came with him, the same man who had visited Jesus in secret at night years earlier and asked him about being born again. He brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds. Together they took the body down from the cross, wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices according to Jewish burial custom, and placed it in a new tomb cut from rock in a garden near the crucifixion site. No one had ever been buried there before.

The women who had watched from a distance followed and saw exactly where the body was laid. They noted the tomb and went home to prepare more spices, planning to return after the Sabbath.

The following morning, the religious leaders went to Pilate.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS“Sir, we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, after three days I will rise again. Give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day, or his disciples may steal the body and tell the people he has been raised from the dead.”— Matthew 27:63-64

Pilate ordered it secured. A stone was rolled across the entrance. A seal was placed on it. Guards were posted.

The garden was quiet. The city was quiet. The stone sat in place, the guards stood watch, and everything looked exactly like an ending.