4/4/15- 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)

Thoughts: Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned in every gospel for giving a grave to Jesus.  Later legends had Joseph as the first keeper of the Holy Grail and the first bishop of Great Britain.  But what we have clear early eyewitness testimony is that Joseph, who had before hidden his faith came out of the woodwork to help the dead Jesus.  The amazing thing is that this rich man was willing to risk  not only his grave but his reputation and his whole welfare for a man who was dead and offered him no other help than his teachings.  Today, the grace Joseph gave is one of the holiest and most revered places in the world (The Church of the Holy Sepulcher).  Nicodemus, who was on the Sanhedrin, also came out of the woodwork.  He came to Jesus at dark for fear of the Jews but ends up coming to his cause after his cause appeared to be lost.  Perhaps the greatest verse in the Bible was given in response to Nicodemus- "For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."  When people are brave enough to take Jesus side even if it seems that side is a lost cause, God blesses them.  Those who cared for the "dead Jesus" were  blessed by the living Christ.

Prayer: Lord, your burial reminds us that you really died.  Help me to always be faithful to you in life and death.  

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

3/30- Declaring God’s Glory- the Deal is Sealed- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

3/30- Declaring God’s Glory- the Deal is Sealed- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)

Thoughts: It is curious in some ways that burial is included as an essential part of the work of Christ sandwiched between Christ's death or resurrection.  The burial makes the death of Jesus sure, certain, and real.  The burial is the closing of the door on the life and death of Christ.  It is similar to the sealing of the tomb.  When Lazarus died and was buried, it was certain that he was not faking or swooning his death.  In the Lazarus story the body had started to decompose- so the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection was that much more real.  So too the burial of Jesus assures us that Jesus did not revive coming off the cross.  Nor is it likely he hopped up with the grave clothes on and pushed the stone over himself.
     Another meaning is found in the phrase "buried with him in baptism" (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). There is almost a mystical implication- just as we died with Christ (Galatians 2:20; Rom 6:8; Col. 2:20) we also are buried with him in baptism.  The burial certifies the death just as our baptism certifies our being born again.  As our sins were paid on the cross, our certification as God's own was given in burial. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dying and being buried for me.  

(Carl Henry Block Burial of Christ)

4/6/12- The Humiliation of Christ- in his burial

46- 4/7- WLC- 50

Q. 50. Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death?
A. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried, and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day; which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Cor. 15:3,4)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4)

Thoughts: The Apostles’ Creed that we frequently affirm says, “He was crucified, dead and buried.”  The burial of Christ was a part of His humiliation.  In Roman Catholic circles pictures (and even in early Reformation circles- as Rembrandt) of the pieta of Christ were an important part of Lent.  The burial of Christ assures us that he was really dead and was decaying.  For those persecuting Him, it was a delightful event that helped them to sleep.  He was sealed and guarded- as if death itself were not seal enough.  The shorter catechism sees burial as a part of the hell Christ went through for us.  Burial is one of the saddest moments in all cultures.  It was evident in Christ’s burial in the women weeping at the tomb. He did not just die for our sakes, He was buried for us- which was a certification of his death, a double sealing of his humility.

Prayer: May we not overlook your suffering for us this Lent, O lord.  Thank you for facing the cross and enduring its shame, and the public humility of your burial.

(Michelangelo’s Pieta- in St. Peter’s Church in the Vatican)

First century tombs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem- where Jesus was buried. 

Traditionally, the tombs owned by Joseph of Arimathea.