Jesus Was Confirmed Dead and Buried in a Tomb
32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly 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 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in 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 garden and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
John 19:32–42 ESV Read More
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. After He died, the Roman soldiers that killed Him verified that He was dead. They treated Him differently than the others they had crucified that day. Anyone watching from a distance could also see what they did with their spear and know that Jesus was dead.
Joseph and Nicodemus also knew that He was dead, and were pretty bold to ask Pilate for the body. What if Pilate arrested them too? Nevertheless, they boldly asked. Pilate would certainly not let them take Jesus to nurse Him back to health, so Pilate had to verify that Jesus was dead too. Joseph and Nicodemus began the process of burial for Jesus. It involved wrapping His body in cloth and salts so that the flesh would rot away quicker and His bones would eventually be left behind. His whole face and head would be wrapped up airtight in those cloths. If there were any chance that He was still alive, there was no return after this embalming process.
They worked fast and got done before the sun set. The Sabbath would begin and the tomb would lay as quiet as any other tomb. Nicodemus and Joseph would go back to their homes, with no reason to believe that the burial they just performed would be any different than any other.
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