The Burial

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Mark 15:43

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who had earlier visited Jesus at night. He brought about 75 pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. By using these spices and aloes the smell of the decaying body could be covered for a short time. The spices and aloe were prized for their perfume and together would act as a drying agent. This mixture would be put between layers of linen cloth wrapped around the body several times.

Joseph and Nicodemus gave Jesus the traditional Jewish burial but were unable to celebrate the Sabbath the next day because by touching his dead body, they could not enter the temple. These men showed that love was more important than tradition.

Normally the weight of spices used would demonstrate the importance of the person being buried. There is written evidence of some of the most beloved rabbis of the time being buried with 40 pounds of spices.

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 27:62-66