Mark 15:42-47, The Burial of Jesus
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Knowing Joseph
We are suddenly introduced to a man named Joseph who is from Arimathea. We have not read about this Joseph before in the gospels and we will not read about him again. But the four gospels do provide a little bit of information about Joseph of Arimathea for us to consider some things about this man. Mark’s account tells us that Joseph was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin council. Immediately, this ought to cast some doubt on the character of this man. Remember that it was the Sanhedrin who convened in Caiaphas’ house in the middle of the night, condemning Jesus of blasphemy in an illegal trial. But before we begin to condemn Joseph, Mark tells us that Joseph was looking forward to the kingdom of God . These words seem to indicate the heart of Joseph which was sincerely looking for the kingdom of God to come.
Luke’s account gives us very important information about Joseph. Luke tells us that Joseph was a good and just man who had not consented with the Sanhedrin council nor their deed (Luke 23:50 -51). This is interesting because Joseph was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, but apparently was not part of the trial process that Jesus endured. Mark 14:64 tells us that all at the trial in Caiaphas’ house consented with the charge of blasphemy and ruling that Jesus was deserving of death. Therefore, it seems that Joseph had not been included in the middle-of-the-night trial of Jesus. It turns out that Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus (John 19:38 ), though being a prominent figure in the Sanhedrin.
Joseph and Nicodemus
Though a secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea exerts some boldness. Joseph goes in before Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus. Once the centurion determines that Jesus is dead, Pilate grants Joseph the body of Jesus. But Joseph is not the only one who is going to care for the body of Jesus. Nicodemus, the one who had come to Jesus with a question in the secrecy of night in John 3, also comes with burial ointments and spices to prepare the body for burial.
Here are the two secret disciples that we read about in the scriptures publicly showing their care for Jesus. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, and Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, are the ones to take care of the body of Jesus. Where are the visible disciples? Where are Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Matthew and so on? The prominent disciples that we have read about are not around. However, those who had so much to lose now stand up to take care of the body of Jesus. I do not suppose that Joseph and Nicodemus were held in favor by the Jewish leaders once they were found to be the ones to care for the body of Jesus. I am sure the Jewish leaders were not thrilled to know that Joseph offered his tomb to place Jesus’ body in rather than casting the body in the valley of Hinnom with all the other criminals and poor who did not have a tomb. When it was not a favorable time to be a disciple of Jesus, Nicodemus and Joseph showed that they loved Jesus.
The Burial of Jesus
All that was done in Jesus’ burial
It has been accurately said that we have more information about the burial preparations of Jesus than of any other person in history. We will see why this is important later in our lesson. But first, let us see all that went into the burial of Jesus.
Bound in linens (Mark 15:46). The type of binding that took place was very similar to what we envision when we speak of mummification. Many linen layers and strips were used to wrap the body tightly. If one were alive and wrapped in such a way, the person would not be able to unwrap and release himself.
Seventy-five to one hundred pounds of burial spices (John 19:39). If the linens were not enough, John tells us the amount of spices that were placed upon the dead body. This would weigh between seventy-five to one hundred pounds. This amount of weight placed upon the body would have made escape a greater impossibility.
Placed in a new tomb (John 19:41). Jesus was also placed in a new tomb. There can be no confusion on this matter, such that people would not know where Jesus was laid. A new tomb was used, and there would be no mix-up concerning location of bodies.
The tomb was nearby (John 19:42). Along the same lines, the new tomb was near the crucifixion site. Therefore, the body did not travel miles and miles with no one knowing what happened to it. The body went a very short distance, which was important so that the preparations could be made on the body before the Sabbath came.
The women who came to the tomb on the first day of the week saw where Jesus was laid (Mark 15:47). Another important event we read is that the women were watching where Jesus was placed. No one can claim that these women did not know where Jesus’ tomb was or that they became confused. They were watching where Jesus was laid so they could return later and anoint Him after the Sabbath was completed.
A large stone was placed against the door (Matthew 27:60). The stone that covered the tomb was large enough that one person could not move it. It would take quite a few people to move the stone slightly uphill and out of its track.
The tomb was made secure by the Jews (Matthew 27:65). The Jews did not want anything to happen to the body of Jesus because Jesus claimed that He would rise from the dead. Therefore, the Jews did everything they could to make the tomb secure.
The stone was sealed (Matthew 27:66). Further, the Romans sealed the tomb so that any tampering with the tomb would be quickly noticed. No one would be able to slip in and out of the tomb without someone knowing something had happened. The tomb was sealed and the seal would be broken if someone had gone in or come out.
A guard was set in front of the tomb (Matthew 27:66). Finally, on top of all these things, a guard was placed in front of the tomb to ensure that no one could tamper with the tomb. A trained military guard whose sole purpose was to watch the tomb was placed where Jesus’ body was laid.
Many of the things done were simply normal Jewish burial customs (John 19:40). Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus performed the burial preparations that were normally performed upon a Jew. But Matthew 27:62-66 shows us that all the security of the tomb was due to the fear that Jesus would actually rise from the dead or that the disciples would perform a hoax and claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. The Jews made absolutely certain that nothing could be done to the body so that the disciples could claim that Jesus had risen from the dead.
Why Jesus’ Burial Is Important
The burial proves Jesus truly died
All of these burial facts are important because the facts prove Jesus truly died. The Roman soldiers at the crucifixion knew when someone was dead. Further, Pilate summoned a centurion to double check that Jesus was dead, because Pilate was surprised that Jesus died so quickly. This was not the first time that Roman soldiers had crucified someone. They did their job with great proficiency. They were not affected when they drove the large iron nails into the hands and feet of the victims into the cross. They were not affected by checking the bodies to be sure that they were dead before the bodies were removed from the cross. The Romans checked that Jesus was dead before releasing the body. Not only this, remember that the Roman also thrust a spear through Jesus’ side (John 19:34 ). This proved Jesus had died, also, because water and blood poured out. There was no reaction from Jesus’ body being stabbed with the spear because He had already died.
But the Romans were not the only ones who had their hands on the body of Jesus. Nicodemus and Joseph also had their hands on Jesus. They spent much painstaking time binding the body with linens, putting the body in the tomb, and placing spices on the body. They, also, were convinced that Jesus was dead. All of this assures us that Jesus was dead, which leads to the reality of His resurrection. No one can deny that the body was missing. Therefore, scholars try to suggest that Jesus was never really dead. Let us be assured that Jesus was dead and buried. The Jews never claimed that Jesus was never dead when the apostles went around claiming a risen Jesus. This could have been the Jews easy defense, but everyone knew that this was simply not true. The burial proves that Jesus truly died.
The burial fulfills scripture
The burial is also necessary because it is the fulfillment of scripture and prophecy. Isaiah prophesied, “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). This is the section of prophecy about the suffering servant. In the midst of describing the suffering the Messiah would endure, we come across these words. How could these things be fulfilled? Now, with the reality of the death of the Messiah, we see how Jesus fulfilled these words. Instead of a grave worthy of a glorious king, Jesus is given a tomb, being treated like any other person. Further, we see a preview in Isaiah that Jesus’ grave would be with the rich. This is important information that Matthew gives us when he tells his readers that Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man and it is in his grave that Jesus was laid. This is just another one of many references to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the prophesied One of the Old Testament.
The Burial Has Spiritual Significance Today (Romans 6:1-11)
To be buried with Christ is to be baptized (6:3-4)
Turn to Romans 6:1-11 and we will notice the important New Testament significance concerning the burial of Jesus. Paul explains that there are many spiritual implications that center around the burial of Jesus. These implications are necessary to our faith and to our salvation. Paul establishes the point that we must be buried with Christ to be united with Christ. How can we be buried with Christ? Shall we all go and build graves and tombs and lie in them for three days? No, but we are united spiritually with Christ when we are baptized. Since we are unable to do what Jesus did in burial, God has commanded us to be buried in the likeness of Christ when we are immersed in water.
In light of these scriptures, how can anyone suggest that baptism is not full immersion in water? Sprinkling is not a burial and does not liken us to Christ’s death. Pouring is not a burial and does not liken us to Christ’s death. Full immersion in a body of water, as seen in the first century, is the only way that we are buried in the likeness of Christ’s death. This is an important point: If you were sprinkled with water or had water poured on you as a baptism, you were not baptized in the likeness of His burial. You were not baptized like those who lived in the first century who were baptized by the disciples (Acts 8:32 -40).
Burial means being dead to sins (6:2, 6-11)
Baptism is very important because it is the way that we are dead to sins. As Paul points out in verse 2, when we have been baptized we have been made dead to sins and therefore can no longer go on living in sin. Our burial in water symbolizes death to sins. To deny the necessity of water baptism is to deny the need to be dead to our sins. These two concepts go together. If water baptism is not needed, then we do not need to be dead to our sins because this is the point at which we become dead to our sins. If we are not dead to sins, then we are dead in our sins and eternally lost.
God makes this point very clear in Colossians 2:11-12, “In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision done by the Messiah, having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Sins are cut off us and removed from us in baptism. We only become dead to sin in baptism. At no point earlier is this possible, for baptism is when sins are cut off and we die spiritually to the sins of the flesh.
Burial unites us with Christ (6:5)
If we have not been buried with Christ in baptism, then we are not united with Christ. The point being this: If we are not united in His death, how can we expect to be united in His resurrection? We cannot be raised to eternal life without being buried with Him. There are two important acts that are taking place in baptism. The first act is the burial under water in which we unite ourselves in Christ’s death. But just as important is the second act. We do not remain under the water, but are raised up out of the water, just as Christ rose from the dead.
We cannot be raised to walk in newness of life without first dying with Christ. We cannot become the new person filled with the Spirit of God until we have died to the old person, killing the lusts of the flesh. There cannot be a resurrection without a death. For us to be raised in Christ means that we must go through a death. Many denominations are teaching that you can have the resurrected life without dying. Some teach that you can be resurrected first and then put to death later. These teachings place God’s sequence out of order. Death to sin must occur first before we can become new creatures raised in Christ. Therefore, we must be baptized into His death so that we can be raised to a new way of life.
Burial brings hope and salvation
Consider this point with me: If Christ was not buried, then we have no hope. Jesus said, “For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40 ). Jesus prophesied concerning His own burial that He would die and remain in the tomb for three days and nights. If Jesus did not die and was not buried, then we have no hope, because the rest of His promises become void. There are three important teachings that Jesus gave while on the earth that must take place for us to have hope. Jesus had to die, be buried, and be resurrected three days later. If any of these things did not take place, then our hope is lost. We place much focus on the death and resurrection, but the burial has great spiritual significance for us, as well. Thus Paul said, “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). These three things are most important, for without them, none of us have hope. But as we have seen this morning, there is no reason to doubt the burial of Jesus the Christ. The Roman soldiers and the people of Jerusalem watched Jesus die. The centurion inspected the body and reported to Pilate that Jesus was dead. The body was given to Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea for burial. The Jews secured the tomb, rolled a large stone in front of the tomb, a seal was placed on the tomb and a Roman guard of soldiers was placed in front of the tomb. Jesus was buried in the tomb.
But the other side of the coin is just as important for us to consider. If Jesus was not buried, we have no hope. But let us also consider this important fact: If we are not buried we have no salvation. If we are not buried with Christ in baptism, we have a false hope of a resurrection with our Lord. How can we think that we will be resurrected with Christ if we have not been buried with Christ in baptism? How can we believe that we have been made new creatures in Christ if we have not died to sins by being buried in water? It is so important that we do things the way God has told us to do them. These things are not optional. The burial has great spiritual significance and we have no right to tinker around with what God has commanded.
Have you been buried with Christ in baptism yet? Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death--that is, the Devil--and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.” Christ’s death has set us free from the power of sin, the power of Satan, and the power of death when we are united in His death. What is preventing you from being baptized when God has said that this is the way for us to have our sins removed, to have the power of Satan and death shattered, and to have the blessing of a resurrection in eternal life with our Lord? The burial of Christ was very important. Our burial is very important. Let us not skip over our need to be buried with Christ.
