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.