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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (22)

Jesus Removed from the Cross and Buried

Matt. 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In our last lesson of this series, the Jews had requested for the legs of those crucified to be broken because the Sabbath Day was approaching.

1.      The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves.

2.      However, they did not break the legs of Jesus because He was dead already.

3.      One of the soldiers did take his spear and pierced the side of Jesus and both blood and water flowed from the wound.

 

B.      We want to continue our study of the Sayings of the Crucifixion in this lesson. 

1.      The subtitle of our lesson is:  “Jesus Removed from the Cross and Buried.” 

2.      Every one of the gospel writers records this aspect of Jesus’ death.

 

I.                   SERVANTS OF JESUS (Matt. 27:57; Mark 15:42-43a; Luke 23:50-51; John 19:38a, 39a)

 

A.    Two servants of Jesus Christ were responsible for the burial of Jesus’ body. 

1.      These two men were not part of the apostolic clan.

2.      They were not just common men of Israel.

3.      Both of them were Jewish leaders, part of the Sanhedrin Council.

 

B.      The first was a man named Joseph.

1.      Matthew 27:57

 

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple.

 

a.      Notice Matthew confirms he was a disciple.

b.      John gives an interesting addition to this point (John 19:38).

 

And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews…

 

1)      Joseph believed Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah.

2)      However, he did not openly confess his belief.  He knew the Jews would retaliate if he openly confessed the Christ (John 12:42).

 

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.

 

2.      Description of Joseph

a.      A rich man (Matt. 27:57)

b.      Of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51; John 19:38)

c.       An honorable counselor (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50)

d.      Waited for the kingdom of God (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51)

e.       A good man (Luke 23:50)

f.        A just man (Luke 23:50)

g.      Consented not to the counsel and deed of them (Luke 23:51)

 

C.     The second disciple that was present was 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.

 

1.      Not much is mentioned about Nicodemus at this time.

a.      Early in His ministry, He had come to Jesus by night and learned of the new birth (John 3).

b.      Now, he is the one who brings the mixture of myrrh and aloes in which to wrap Jesus’ body.  (NOTE:  Some have objected to the great weight of the mixture.  Some believe it was just a pound.  Others believe that the abundance was shown out of respect by Nicodemus).

2.      It is not specifically stated in the Biblical text, but many believe that neither Joseph nor Nicodemus were at the trial of Jesus.  Thus, neither of them consented to His death.

 

II.                THE SOLICITATION BY JOSEPH (Matt. 27:58; Mark 15:43b-45; Luke 23:52; John 19:38)

 

A.    The Craving

1.      The Scripture:

a.      “He went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus” (Matt. 27:58; Luke 23:52).

b.      “…and went in boldly, and craved the body of Jesus” (Mark 15:43).

c.       “…besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus” (John 19:38).

2.      This was truly a bold move on Joseph’s part.

a.      What if his Jewish colleagues found out?

b.      He had to approach Pilate who had washed his hands of the matter.

c.       Normal protocol was to either leave the body hanging for the birds to eat, or, to cast it aside on the ground for the wild dogs to devour.  This was part of the continued shame of the crucifixion.  For a criminal to get a decent burial was unheard of.

3.      What was in the heart of Joseph that day?

a.      A deep respect for Jesus?

b.      An urgency as the Sabbath approached?

c.       Some guilt for not having done more?

d.      Some desperation, knowing something needed to be done for Jesus?

e.       Sorrow knowing that a great prophet was unjustly condemned to die?

 

B.      The Confirmation (Mark 15:44)

 

And Pilate marveled if he were dead already:  and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

 

1.      The last order Pilate had given was for the legs of the criminals to be broken.  This hastened death, but did not bring it about immediately.

2.      When Joseph came to Pilate, he marveled to think that Jesus could be dead so soon.

3.      Therefore, he called a centurion who could confirm whether Jesus had been dead for a while.

4.      NOTE:  He would never want to release someone who was still living into anyone’s custody.

 

C.     The Concession

1.      Mark 15:45

And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

 

2.      Matthew’s gospel tells us that “Pilate commanded the body to be delivered” (Matt. 27:58).

 

III.             THE SEPULCHRE FOR JESUS (Matt. 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53; John 19:40-42).

 

A.    The Preparation of the body

1.      The body was taken down by Joseph.  “And he took it down…” (Luke 23:53).

a.      A dead body was considered unclean.

b.      Joseph and Nicodemus would have both been considered unclean for seven days (Num. 19:11).

 

He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

 

2.      The body was wrapped in fine linen with the spices brought by Nicodemus (Matt. 27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53; John 19:40).

a.      It was not just any linen.  It was “clean” (Matt. 27:59) and “fine” (Mark 15:46).

b.      The body wrapped in the linen (John 19:40).

c.       John puts this note:  “…as the manner of the Jews is to bury” (John 19:40).  This is put in contrast with other means of burial:  after the manner of the Romans, or after the manner of the Egyptians.

 

B.      The Place for the body.

1.      It was in a garden near the place of crucifixion (John 19:41).  This was chosen because the preparation for the Sabbath was at hand.

2.      It was a “new” sepulcher, meaning, no man had ever been laid in it before (John 19:41; Luke 23:53).

3.      It was Joseph’s “new” sepulcher.  “And he laid it in his own new tomb…” (Matt. 27:60). 

4.      This sepulcher had been hewn out of a rock (Matt. 27:60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53).

5.      After the body was placed inside, they “rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and departed” (Matt. 27:60).

 

C.     The Prophecy Fulfilled (Isa 53:9)

 

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death…

 

1.      Isaiah’s ministry was between 740 B.C. and 701 B.C.

2.      How would Isaiah have known these two facts about Jesus’ death?

 

IV.             THE SURVEILLANCE BY THE WOMAN (Matt. 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55-56)

 

A.    The women who were faithful to Jesus had been with Him the entire day, from the Via Dolarosa to the grave.

 

B.      Two stayed to find out what would happen to Jesus’ body (Mark 15:47).

 

And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

 

C.     These two woman finally returned home, but their work on Jesus’ behalf continued (Luke 23:56).

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

 

1.      They worked diligently that evening preparing spices and ointments in order to take care of Jesus’ body properly after the Sabbath Day.

2.      They had plans that early on the first day of the week they would return to the sepulchre and anoint the Lord’s body.

3.      LESSON:  It is wonderfully amazing how faithful servants continue to find ways to serve the Lord even in the direst circumstances.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    The hill of Calvary was now silent.

 

B.      The disciples were in hiding for fear of the Jews.

 

C.     The Jewish leaders needed to cover one more base, about which we will study later, but were content and diligently preparing for the Sabbath Day and Passover.

 

D.    The Jewish people believed a man who called Himself a prophet was dead and that His life was now behind them.

 

E.      Yes, an eerie quiet settled over the city of Jerusalem.

 

F.      What were the angels of heaven thinking?

 

G.     What was now in the mind of Satan as the body of Jesus rested in the tomb of Joseph?

 

H.    For a time, hope was replaced with hopelessness and despair.