Joseph of Arimathea took a risk + went to Pilate + asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council + he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)
Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer + asked if he had died yet. 45 The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth + laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary Magdalene + Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid. —Mark 15:43-47 NLT
Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy Jewish religious leader, a member of the Sanhedrin, who was also a secret follower of Jesus. John 19:39-40 says that Joseph was joined by Nicodemus, another wealthy religious leader. Together they wrapped Jesus’ body in about 75-100 pounds of spices + long linen strips. These linen strips later became the empty grave clothes that would give testimony to Jesus’ victory over death + His miraculous resurrection!
Jesus was then laid in the borrowed tomb of Joseph, a tomb that was carved out of solid rock. A stone that weighed approximately 1½ to 2 tons was rolled to the entrance of the tomb completely sealing off the body.
One historian indicates that the stone was so heavy it would have required 20 men to move it! The stone was designed to keep animals from devouring or desecrating the body of a dead loved one. Even the burial of Jesus in a rich man’s tomb was a fulfillment of another prophecy by Isaiah, “ . . . he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave” (Isaiah 53:9b NLT).
The next day, the religious authorities went to Pilate + requested that a guard be placed at the entrance to the tomb. They told him, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come + steal the corpse + then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before . . . ” (Matthew 27:63-64 MSG)
It’s probable that the supernatural phenomenon surrounding Jesus’ death—the sun going black, the earthquake + the veil ripped in two—had these leaders on edge. Pilate granted their request. There’s speculation as to whether the guard was made up of the Roman Guard or members of the Temple Guard. Regardless, both were highly trained.
Further, Roman guards would have inspected the tomb + then rolled the stone back into its place before sealing the tomb. Sealing the tomb required that a cord be stretched across the rock + fastened at each end with sealing clay. Finally, the clay packs were stamped with the official signet of the Roman governor (Matthew 27:66).[1]
The seal was an official + public testimony that Jesus was actually in the tomb. The seal also verified the fact that His body was protected from vandals by nothing less than the power + authority of the Roman Empire. Anyone who tampered with the seal or tried to move the stone was guilty of a crime punishable by death.
All of these events took place in the last seven days of Jesus’ life:
- An intimate act of worship.
- Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the arriving King.
- Jesus cleansing the temple + challenging the religious leaders.
- A plot hatched to murder Him.
- Another intimate act of worship preparing Jesus for His death + burial.
- Jesus gathering His disciples for Passover + Holy Communion.
- Jesus praying in the garden.
- Jesus being betrayed + arrested.
- Finally, Jesus being tortured, crucified + buried.
At first, His closest followers viewed all of this as a horrible travesty of justice + a failure of the purpose + plan of God. But, in reality, this is exactly what God had intended + designed since before our ancestors committed high treason by rebelling against God in the Garden of Eden.
Today’s Verse: They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true. —Isaiah 53:9 MSG
Today’s Prompt: Have you ever felt like all hope is lost?
Today’s Gratitude: I am grateful that things are not always what they seem, especially when I feel like all is lost.
Today’s Prayer: Father, I want to offer up prayers of praise + thanksgiving for Jesus—the One who never hurt a soul, but came to save them + who never uttered a word that wasn’t true, but actually is the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Kindle Edition, page 255 of 798.