THE BURIAL OF JESUS

Passage: Matthew 27:57-66

Key verse: 63

NIV

The Burial of Jesus(A)

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb(B) that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’(C) 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body(D) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,”(E) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal(F) on the stone(G) and posting the guard.(H)

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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

57 (A)When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and (B)laid it in his own new tomb, (C)which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled (D)a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and (E)the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, that is, after the day of (F)Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how (G)that impostor said, while he was still alive, (H)‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, (I)lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have (J)a guard[a] of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by (K)sealing the stone and setting a guard.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 27:65 Or Take a guard
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 of Arimathea (57-61)

Joseph was a wealthy, highly respected man. He was a disciple of Jesus. He had kept his discipleship a secret for a long time, but now he came out in the open. He claimed the body of Jesus and buried him in his own new tomb. Joseph and the two Marys were faithful to the end.

2. Secure the tomb (62-66)

The chief priests and Pharisees had better memories than the disciples. They remembered Jesus' promise to rise after three days. They requested and received special assistance from Pilate to secure the tomb and make sure that the disciples did not steal the body of Jesus. They tried to prevent the resurrection; they only succeeded in proving it. Friends could not help him; enemies could not stop him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to do what I can and to be faithful to you. Thank you for showing me that the enemies of Jesus cannot keep him in the tomb.

One Word: My sins were buried with him