JESUS' BURIAL

Passage: John 19:38-42

Key verse: 40

NIV

The Burial of Jesus(A)

38 Later, 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.(B) With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus,(C) the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[a] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.(D) This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.(E) 41 At 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. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation(F) and since the tomb was nearby,(G) they laid Jesus there.

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Footnotes
  1. John 19:39 Or about 34 kilograms
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Is Buried

38 (A)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly (B)for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 (C)Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[a] by night, came (D)bringing a mixture of (E)myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[b] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and (F)bound it in (G)linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a (H)garden, and (I)in the garden a new tomb (J)in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish (K)day of Preparation, (L)since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

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Footnotes
  1. John 19:39 Greek him
  2. John 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Joseph (38)

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Jewish council. He had carefully kept his belief in Jesus a secret because he feared peer pressure. But now he came forward. In asking for the body of Jesus, he was identifying himself as a follower of Jesus. He was no longer a secret believer. He had taken his stand.

2. Nicodemus (39-42)

This is the third time Nicodemus appears in this gospel (3:1-10; 7:50) He also was a member of the ruling council. He had come to Jesus by night and heard Jesus' words, 'You must be born again.' Jesus had told him that the Son of Man would be lifted up, and those who believed in him would have eternal life (3:14,15). He had tried to remain in the middle, but his fellow council members only got angry. He saw the Son of Man on the cross, and finally came forward to serve Jesus with his hands and money. Jesus' burial is important, because it prepares the way for the empty tomb and the resurrection.

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you without fear and to be clear as your disciple.

One Word: Jesus was buried