Wierwille, V.P.-The Burial of Jesus
The Burial of Jesus
Another Study in Abundant Living by VICTOR PAUL WIERWILLE This book is in the public domain. For more teachings by V. P. Wierwille, E. W. Bullinger and others, go to: www.eternallyblessed.org The Scripture used throughout this study is quoted from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Any explanatory insertions by the author within a Scripture verse are enclosed in brackets [ ]. No one has made such an impact upon humanity as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; yet, He left no written records, He owned no material things and His death was like that of a criminal. The Word of God does not give one indication in all of its records of either the Apostles or the relatives of Jesus making any preparation whatsoever for the Master’s burial. Perhaps they were stunned, or perhaps the tenseness of those days caused them to desist; or was it because of the time of the Passover or just plain unbelief? Even the beloved John or the boisterous Peter or the half-brothers of Jesus were not concerned about the burial. This neglect on the part of the Apostles, the beloved relatives and a few friends has always seemed cruel to me. That even His mother, His half-brothers or half-sisters took no account of the necessary arrangements whatsoever for the burial of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is almost unbelievable. The Word of God informs us that this last rite to the body of Jesus was performed by two believers, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Joseph of Arimathea knew and believed that Jesus was going to die. Nicodemus, certainly knew it from the conversations he had with Jesus, according to the record in the Gospel of John, chapter three. But, did they believe that Jesus was going to rise from the dead?
Joseph of Arimathea is not spoken of anywhere in the Word of God apart from this instance of the relationship with the burial of Jesus.
Nicodemus, however, to the contrary, is spoken of in other Scriptures. According to the third chapter of the Gospel of John, this Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. In John chapter seven we have the record of a meeting of the Sanhedrin and the discussion about those who were believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. They said, "Have any of the rulers...believed on him?" "Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" Certainly this type of statement made Nicodemus most unpopular before the Sanhedrin.
Here are some thoughtful questions regarding the burial of Jesus. Why did the women come to the tomb early the first day of the week? They most certainly did not expect to find that God had raised Jesus from the dead, for they would not have brought their spices and ointments. Not one of them, not even the Apostles, expected Jesus Christ to rise. "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." John 20:9.
Mark 16:1 tells us that the women went to the tomb for the purpose of anointing Him. Why did they go to anoint Him when John 19:39,40 says that Nicodemus had done this? The answer lies in the fact that what John tells in his Gospel account of the burial is not identical to what Matthew, Mark and Luke tell. Yet, there is no contradiction in the Gospel records, if we rightly divide The Word and note very carefully to whom it is addressed, when and where. (See "A Harmony of the Burial of Jesus" on pages 16 and 17).
Another interesting question is, why did the Apostles go to the grave after Jesus had risen? The women had returned from the grave on the first day of the week and told the Apostles that Jesus was not in the sepulchre so they had to see for themselves. In Matthew 27:57-61 we will note some very interesting truths. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: Matthew 27:57. The word "even" establishes the time. We know from the biblical record in Matthew 27:46, 50 as well as the other Gospels, that Jesus died at the ninth hour which corresponds to three o’clock in the afternoon our time. But there are two "evens" referred to in the Scriptures. One "even" is from 3 o’clock in the afternoon until sundown, the other "even" is after sundown. This "even" of Matthew 27:57 is between 3 P.M. and sunset. The words "a rich man" are enlightening. Literally the word "rich" as used here means "abounding in riches." He was what we would call a multi-millionaire, a very wealthy man. Joseph lived in Arimathea, approximately 25 miles from Jerusalem. He was "Jesus’ disciple." Technically, he was discipled to Jesus, a pupil of Jesus, a student, convinced because of his own research and questing.
He (Joseph of Arimathea) went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. Matthew 27:58.
Joseph’s association with Jesus must have made him most unpopular for he was a just man from a Jewish city. Pilate was a gentile. Entering into the court of a gentile to request the body of Jesus made Joseph ceremonially unclean to eat the Passover. The record in John 18:28 tells of the presence of the rulers of the synagogue when Jesus was led into the judgment hall. "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves (these rulers, scribes and pharisees) went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover."
Joseph begged Pilate for the body of Jesus. Note carefully that Joseph begged for the body, he craved the body of Jesus. Logically, who would have wanted the body of Jesus as it seemed a criminal’s body. No person would beg for a criminal’s body but would simply try to get rid of it as soon as possible, even without touching it, if at all possible. Yet Joseph went to Pilate’s Hall and he did not just say, "Pilate, may I have the body of Jesus," but he said, "Please, Pilate, let me have the body of Jesus." How Joseph must have loved Him. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, Matthew 27:59.
I want you to notice carefully that it says nothing about Nicodemus aiding Joseph in any way. It was Joseph of Arimathea who, after Pilate commanded the body to be delivered, took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in a clean cloth. The words "wrapped it" means "rolled it up in," it does not mean that he "put it on Him." The word for "linen cloth" is the Greek word sindōn. This clean "linen cloth" was not the regular grave wrapping, as we shall see later that an entirely different word is used; but, it was a sheet of material which was wrapped around a body, not necessarily a dead body. The same word sindōn is used in Mark 14:51 which you might find interesting to note. The word "had" in verse 59 is uniquely interesting, as it is used in the active past perfect tense, because it indicates that Joseph himself personally took the body. And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Matthew 27:60. The first question one would naturally have is, why should Joseph of Arimathea have a tomb or a sepulchre in Jerusalem and that right next to the place where criminals would be executed? This just does not make sense unless we realize that this particular sepulchre was a memorial specifically prepared by Joseph of Arimathea at this location that it might be the burying place or tomb for Jesus. Joseph had his men to hew out of the rock, a tomb which being a memorial was also referred to as a sepulchre. Every sepulchre could be a tomb, but not every tomb was a sepulchre; because, to be a sepulchre it had to have distinctive carvings and markings making it a memorial. The word "had" in verse 60 is in the past passive tense, indicating that Joseph had it hewn out by somebody else and not that he hewed it out himself. Also, note that in the usage here in verse 60 it was Joseph who rolled the "great stone" to the door of the sepulchre and departed. This indicates that after Joseph had done exactly what The Word says he did, he closed the sepulchre and left; but, we need to note that there was no anointing, there were no spices used, there were no wrappings of grave clothes. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Matthew 27:61. The word "against" means "on the opposite side of," or "away from," or "in front of" just as though you would be sitting in front of a fireplace, then the fireplace would be "over against." The women who were present observed everything that was done by Joseph of Arimathea and, of course, they noted that Joseph did not properly bury Jesus according to Jewish custom.
Why did Joseph not anoint Him with spices and wrap Him in the burial clothing? I am confident that all of the actions of Joseph of Arimathea indicated that it was unnecessary, for he believed that Jesus Christ would rise again. The word "disciple," which we discussed earlier, does not mean that he was simply a casual pupil or student of Jesus, but that he was a great follower; not just a follower, but one who took the words of Jesus literally.
Perhaps before we leave this one section we ought to note this Scripture: "For as yet they knew not the scriptures, that he must rise again from the dead." John 20:9. This is speaking specifically regarding the Apostles and disciples, but not regarding Joseph of Arimathea as you can see from the context. The next record in the Bible regarding the burial of Jesus is recorded in Mark 15:42-47. And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Mark 15:42. The word "even" is the same word as we discussed in Matthew 27:57, meaning the period of time between 3 o’clock in the afternoon and sunset. In this verse we are specifically informed that this day when Christ died was the Day of Preparation, the day before the Passover. The Passover was always on the 15th of Abib or Nisan. The day before the Passover therefore, is the 14th of Nisan which was the Day of Preparation, which was "the day before the Sabbath." This Sabbath was not the weekly Sabbath, but the Passover Sabbath which was the "high day" of John 19:31, which was a special Sabbath always observed on the 15th of Nisan.*
* Read "The Day Jesus Christ Died" for a detailed study of this particular phase of the death of Jesus Christ.
Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. Mark 15:43. This record tells us a little more about Joseph, namely, that he was "an honourable counseller," that is, he was a member of the council, the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews in Jerusalem, waiting for the kingdom of the Messiah. The word "craved" in this verse is the same as the word "begged" which we discussed from the Gospel of Matthew. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. Mark 15:44.
Pilate was not about to take the word of Joseph so he asked the Centurion if it was true. In every record I am deeply impressed with the boldness of Joseph of Arimathea. The record in Mark 14:50 says regarding the Apostles, "And they all forsook him, and fled." Yet, Joseph who was not one of the twelve Apostles, but one who really believed Jesus was bold. The Apostles may have been in close association with Jesus during His earthly life, but when the pressure was on they fled, yet Joseph was bold when Jesus was dead. And when he (Pilate) knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he (Joseph) bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. Mark 15:45,46.
I want you to note that Joseph "bought," deliberately purchased for this person who was very special to him, a new wrapping or sheet which here again is called "fine linen," the same word as used in Matthew, namely, a sindōn.
Here it also specifically says that he (Joseph) took Him (Jesus) down from the cross. The words "wrapped him" is the same word as used in Matthew; namely, "rolled him up in" the linen material. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. Mark 15:47.
Again, I want you to note there is no mention whatsoever, in this Gospel of Nicodemus’ presence. It also states that the women stayed around while Joseph of Arimathea was burying Jesus to see what was actually happening. There was no anointing with oil or spices for burial according to the proper method of a Jewish burial. The next record is in Luke 23:52b, 53.
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just: Luke 23:50. The word "good" used here means that he was worthy to be admired, a person to be looked up to.
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. Luke 23:51. This verse gives more information regarding Joseph than we had in the Gospels of Matthew or Mark. It informs us that He was a member of the Council, the Sanhedrin, but that he did not consent to the majority rule and the deeds carried out by that Council. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. Luke 23:52,53.
Note very specifically that Joseph took the body down and "wrapped" the body in "linen." sindōn, the same description as in the other Gospels. I want to just make a notation here for us to remember that the word "wrapped" is not the same as the word "wound." This verse also gives us the information concerning this special memorial place being a sepulchre hewn out of stone specifically for Jesus. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. Luke 23:54. The day was the 14th of Nisan, the Day of Preparation. The Passover occurred on the 15th, which was a Sabbath, not the weekly Sabbath, but the "high day Sabbath" of John 19:31. And the women also, which came after him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. Luke 23:55.
These women can be identified from Mark 15:40, 41 where we read, "There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem."
These women came from Galilee and beheld the sepulchre and "how his body was laid." In other words, they observed exactly what Joseph of Arimathea did, namely, that he simply wrapped Jesus in a sindōn but did not properly anoint His body with spices and oils according to Jewish burial customs. Because of what the women saw, when Joseph of Arimathea rolled the stone to the door and left, this record follows: And they (the women) returned (to Jerusalem), and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day (both the high day of John 19:31 and the weekly sabbath) according to the commandment. Luke 23:56. This is all there is to this record of the Gospel of Luke. Again you see that Matthew, Mark and Luke all concur regarding the great truth that it was Joseph of Arimathea who took the body of Jesus down from the cross after Pilate had given him permission to do so, wrapped it in a linen cloth, a sindōn, and laid the body in his own sepulchre without giving Jesus any proper burial attention.
Turning to John 19:38-42, we now will find some very interesting added truths which do not contradict, but which simply enlarge upon that which we have been told in the three synoptic Gospels. And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought (asked of) Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. John 19:38.
"And after this..." After this what? After what the record in John has been saying, namely, pertaining to that which the soldiers did, how they came and broke the legs of the thief and of the malefactor, but when they came to Jesus they saw that He was dead already so they did not break His legs.
"And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple (being a student) of Jesus,..." Up to this point we have the same information as recorded by the other synoptic writers, but now we have a statement which we did not have in the other Gospels, namely, "...but secretly for fear of the Jews,..." The word "secretly" would lead one to think that he was afraid of what would happen to him if they found out about him, because he was a secret disciple. I believe that this is what most of us have believed or do believe. But, the word translated "secretly" is a verb in the Greek text and it should read, "after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a pupil, an earnest student or disciple of Jesus, but hidden away for fear of the Jews,..." "Secreted" is what the word actually is. He was hidden away. The Greek word is kruptō which means "concealed," "hidden away" or "having hidden." The word kruptō has been transliterated into English into our word "crypt."
According to this record Joseph of Arimathea had hidden away, concealed in a crypt for fear of the Jews, yet, in Mark 15:43 we noted earlier that He came boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. This looks like a contradiction or is it speaking of something different? Joseph of Arimathea was not afraid of what might happen to him eventually, but he was concealed during the operation of the crucifixion, because he wanted to be sure not only to be able to see what was going on but to be alive, to boldly claim the body of Jesus for he knew and believed that Jesus was going to die. Joseph of Arimathea bought a garden in which He had a sepulchre hewed out of the rock. This was near to the place of the crucifixion. Certainly Joseph would never have done this had he not believed what Jesus told him concerning His own death. 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. John 19:39. This verse gives us an added thought, because up until this time Nicodemus has not been mentioned at all, but in verse 39 we read "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night,..." This identifies Nicodemus with the record in John three and John seven as being the same man. ...and (he) brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight." This is the first occasion in any of the Gospels that these spices used for proper burial of Jewish believers are mentioned.
Then took they (he) the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. John 19:40. The first word in verse 40 gives us the time after all this which has been done by Joseph of Arimathea, "then." The word "they" in the King James has left the impression that it was Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, but this cannot be true from the records given in the other three Gospels. In the Aramaic text the word "they" is the word "he." If it is "they" it must be Nicodemus and his helpers, excluding Joseph of Arimathea.
Here for the first time in the Gospels we have the word "wound" used. It is not the same word as "wrapped" used in the other Gospels where it said that Joseph wrapped him in a sindōn. In this verse we are informed that Nicodemus "wound" Jesus with the spices in linen clothes. Here the Greek word for "linen clothes" is othonion meaning "bandages or wrappings, grave clothes." These are striking truths.
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in this garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. John 19:41. This is the same garden where Mary Magdalene saw Joseph of Arimathea place the body and where Mary Magdalene met Jesus after His resurrection.
There laid they ("he," the same as inverse 40) Jesus therefore (after he had properly anointed the body and wrapped it for Jewish burial) because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. John 19:42. This specifically informs us that the tomb was near by. May I just say, that according to biblical usage every sepulchre maybe a tomb but not every tomb is a sepulchre. The word for sepulchre is mnēomeion meaning "monument;" while the word for tomb is taphos meaning "a place where one is buried.
Putting all the truth together from the four Gospels, we note that Joseph of Arimathea, after receiving permission from Pilate, took the body of Jesus, rolled it in a sindōn and put it in his own sepulchre, which he had prepared for the occasion, rolled the stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed. The women who had been sitting a short distance from the sepulchre noted all that happened when Jesus was placed in this tomb. So the women returned to Jerusalem to prepare the spices and ointment for proper burial. They returned to Jerusalem without having any knowledge of what Nicodemus would do. Nicodemus came to the sepulchre and properly wrapped the body in spices with grave clothes and buried Jesus according to the Jewish custom.
Another note of interest to me is the word "because" in verse 42, which is the Greek word dia. This seems to clearly stipulate that Nicodemus quickly laid Jesus back in this sepulchre; since the time was running out before the Jewish Passover began, which of course, would occur at sunset. Thus it is quite well documented here that it was close to sunset when Nicodemus came to anoint the body properly.
According to John 20:5 John the Apostle, on the first day of the week came to the sepulchre and it says, "he stooping down,...saw the linen clothes..." In verse 6 we are informed that Simon Peter entered in the sepulchre and he "seeth the linen clothes lie,..." The word for "linen clothes" here again is not sindōn but othonion meaning "wrapping. " And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John 20:5, 6, 7. A HARMONY OF THE BURIAL OF JESUS Matthew 27:57-61 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Mark 15:42-47 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre, which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments;
John 19:38-42 And after this Joseph of Arimathea, 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. 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. 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. 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. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.