John 19:38, commentary and pictures

Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy, honored and influential member of the Sanhedrin and a true disciple of Jesus who had kept his discipleship secret for fear of the Jews, lest he lose his place and influence. After Jesus died his fear was overcome, and while the other disciples were scattered, disheartened and too intimidated to act openly, he boldly and openly came forward with Nicodemus to take charge of the body. He went privately yet boldly to Pilate to beseech leave to take away the body, and Pilate, after questioning the centurion at the cross and learning with surprise that Jesus had died so soon, gave him leave with an official order. Without this intervention the body was at risk of rough handling by soldiers and a dishonored burial with criminals, which John and the disciples had no favor or influence to prevent, but Joseph and Nicodemus by wealth and standing with Pilate secured an honorable burial and shielded the disciples. The body was therefore gently taken down, cleansed and wrapped with honor in fine linen with costly spices, and laid in Joseph's own new rock-hewn unused tomb near Calvary.

Joseph and His Request

Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy, honored and influential member of the Sanhedrin council and a true disciple of Jesus who kept his discipleship secret for fear of the Jews, fearing that open following would cost him his place in the council and his influence and ability to help Jesus. He acted privately because of the hatred of the Jews, while the disciples feared Jesus would be denied an honored burial. Joseph and Nicodemus had challenged the grounds for Jesus' condemnation and protested His arrest, and without their unanimous consent condemnation could not be secured through ordinary proceedings. The priests therefore secured it by a secret council that did not summon them, keeping them away with apparently important work so they could not be present to oppose what was done. Though Joseph and Nicodemus were present at the crucifixion, they could not change or lessen His sentence.

After Jesus died Joseph's fear was overcome, and at a time of danger when the other disciples were poor, scattered, disheartened, discouraged and too intimidated to act openly, he no longer concealed his loyalty but openly and boldly came forward with Nicodemus to take charge of the body and perform the burial rites. The events that shook others confirmed to them that He was the Messiah, so they openly stood as believers. Joseph went privately but boldly to Pilate to beseech permission to take away the body for burial, and Pilate gave him leave with an official order releasing the body to him. Joseph's return with the governor's commission allowed the burial preparations to proceed.

Pilate had not known Jesus was dead, because reports about the crucifixion conflicted and the priests had warned him that the disciples might deceive him about the body. He therefore questioned the centurion in charge at the cross who commanded the soldiers there, whose account of Calvary corroborated Joseph's testimony and confirmed the death. He learned for the first time from Joseph that Jesus was dead, and that He died soon after the crucifixion began just as the mysterious darkness over the earth passed away, when crucified men often lived for days. His early death surprised Pilate and strengthened his belief that Jesus was innocent and no ordinary man, and Pilate was deeply troubled and regretted his part in condemning Him.

Honorable Burial Secured

Without such intervention the body faced rough handling by unfeeling soldiers and a dishonored burial in ground set apart for criminals executed for treason against Rome. It would have been taken down by common soldiers and placed with the thieves. John and the disciples treasured the body and lingered unwilling to leave it, yet they had no favor with the authorities and no influence with Pilate to prevent this. John feared the soldiers would handle it without care, and the disciples feared hatred would deny Jesus an honored burial.

Joseph, joined by Nicodemus, both members of the Sanhedrin acquainted with Pilate and men of wealth and influence, were determined to secure an honorable burial. They supplied what the disciples lacked, for the other disciples were poor, scattered, disheartened and too intimidated to act openly. They acted promptly to keep the body from the thieves' grave. By their standing they also helped shield the poor disciples from priestly hostility and censure.

The body was gently taken down, cleansed, wrapped in fine linen with a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes brought by Nicodemus and treated with exceptional honor. It was then carried and laid in Joseph's own new, rock-hewn, unused tomb near Calvary where no one had been laid. The Galilean women and other disciples watched until the burial was completed and the entrance closed with a heavy stone. Angelic hosts watched over the tomb. Joseph and Nicodemus wept over the body as the disciples' grief over lost hopes returned.

Joseph and Nicodemus had remembered Jesus' predictions of His death, searched the Scriptures and recognized fulfilled prophetic details. The events that shook others confirmed to them He was the Messiah, so they openly stood as believers. They wrapped His body with spices though it was not to decay, and laid Him in a new unused tomb for clear evidence, in which Christ was laid with the rich. His death left the people without the healer whose touch and words had brought relief.