23:50 ¶ And, behold, there
was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a
just: 51 (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. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged
the body of Jesus. 53 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. 54
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from
Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices
and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Joseph of Arimathea,
whom Matthew reported was a disciple of Jesus, not only is featured notably in all
four Gospels at Christ’s crucifixion making himself responsible for Christ’s burial
but there are extra-Biblical myths about him that are interesting. Several
legends began to arise about him as early as the second century and eventually
he became a part of Britain’s legend of King Arthur as the first keeper of the
Holy Grail. Christ would not be placed in a family tomb with the remains of
other deceased persons as was customary.
There is a prophecy in
Isaiah 53 of note that may hint at Joseph of Arimathaea’s involvement here.
Isaiah 53:9 And he made his
grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no
violence, neither was any
deceit in his mouth.
Verse 51 seems to
indicate that he was part of the counsel that condemned Christ but was against
that condemnation.
Chapter 24
24:1 ¶ Now upon the first day
of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing
the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the
sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and
found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two
men stood by them in shining garments: 5
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said
unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he
spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all
these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was
Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women
that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales,
and they believed them not. 12 Then
arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen
clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which
was come to pass.
The women who
ministered to Jesus and the Apostles came to the tomb on the first day of the
week, our Sunday, early in the morning. This is indeed the time that early
Christians would worship, before going about their daily labors. Sunday was not
a day off for 300 years after Christ’s resurrection. They brought spices to
prepare the body of Christ, having had to refrain on the Sabbath.
We get an indication
here of first-century burial practices in Judea, such as placing the body in a rock-hewn
tomb and packing spices around it to inhibit the smell of decaying flesh.
Jesus was hurriedly
placed in the tomb, the sepulcher, due to the approaching Sabbath. Some
scholars write that a typical Jewish burial was done in two phases. The first,
where the body was laid in the tomb and prepared with spices, wrapped, and
placed in the tomb, and the second, much later, when the bones of the deceased
were placed in a separate container called an ossuary. Christ’s resurrection
would prevent this from happening. Of course, the poorest people would not have
this kindness visited on them as ground burials were not uncommon.
The stone that was
placed in front of the tomb was rolled away. Matthew 27 is more detailed in
giving the significance of this stone to keep the disciples from stealing
Jesus’ body and the reference to the temple guard or Roman soldiers guarding it.
Matthew 27:57 ¶ When the
even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also
himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went
to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be
delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken
the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 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. 61 And
there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the
sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that
followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came
together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we
remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I
will rise again. 64 Command therefore
that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by
night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead:
so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go
your way, make it as sure as ye
can. 66 So they went, and made the
sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Jesus’ body is gone and
two men stand there in shining clothing and they ask one of the great questions
of the Bible; why seek ye the living
among the dead? They continue with another wonderful declaration for the
ages; He is not here, but is risen. These
supernatural figures from the other side, the spirit world, in shining clothing
remind Jesus’ followers that He told them these events would take place.
The women run and tell
the Apostles who do not believe them. Peter runs to the tomb and sees the burial
clothes of Jesus neatly folded and no sign of Him. He doesn’t understand.
Again, this shows that the Jews were not looking forward to the Cross as many
evangelicals say. They had no clue in spite of being told over and over by
Christ Himself of these events.
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