4/16/24- The Burial of Christ

38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.^e 40Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:38-42)

Thoughts: The Apostle Paul said that he passed on to us what was of first importance that Jesus died, was buried and was raised according to the scriptures.  We often talk about His dying and raising, but this talks about the neglected of the three- His burial.
       Jesus' burial has significance.  It tells us Jesus really died.  Living people do not get buried- and if they do, they do not stay living long.  A tomb would be the least likely place to  be revived from the dead.
     Jesus burial also means He is able to sympathize with those who die.  He descended into the grave, sheol, hades- the realm of death.  But while He is able to understand death fully, no grave could contain or seal Him in death.
      Some used the burial to raise the question of the descent into hell of Jesus.  The western medieval way of looking at this would be to say Jesus  went to purgatory to preach to the spirits of the saints of the Old Testament and others (1 Peter 3:19- "he also went and preached to the spirits in prison."  This descent is also hinted in the Old Testament (Ps. 49:15; Hos. 13:14; Jonah 2:2,6; Isa. 26:19) an the New (Acts 2:31; Eph. 4:9-10; 2 Pt. 4:6).  While it was not added to the Apostles' Creed til 359, it was part of the writings of Ignatius, Polcarp, Irenaeus, and Tertullian in the early church.  This would not be a universalistic belief as some in hell would still reject the message and person of Christ.  Some Roman Catholics spoke of this as the "Harrowing of Hell" meaning the conquering of the devil and bringing to Himself those who had never heard.  Certainly there is a sense of the conquering of evil in the cross.  Some Protestants following Aquinas (eg. Luther) believed Jesus took the time between His death and resurrection to go to hell and tell those who were there what He has done- so that they too would recognize His justice- with the knees of those under the earth bowing to Him (Phil. 2:10).  John Calvin said that Jesus went through hell on the cross for us when He became our sacrifice for sin and said, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?"  Hell certainly is a God-forsaken state.  For many Reformed thinkers, the burial of Christ was another part of the humiliation of Christ- along with coming to earth, having no home or possessions on earth, and dying a humiliating and unjust death.  So, many combine His burial with His humiliating descent into hell. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your burial, that reminds me of your great love.  No tomb, no grave could hold you.  

(Peter Huys 1545-77 Harrowing of Hell)

     Michelangelo- Pieta- Mary holding the dead Christ before burial