John 19:39, commentary and pictures

Nicodemus, the ruler who had first come to Jesus by night, brought about a hundred pounds weight of a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare His body for burial. With Joseph of Arimathea he wrapped the body in linen cloths with the spices and ointments after the manner of the Jews, and laid it in Joseph's new tomb. This lavish provision gave Jesus extraordinary honor in death, fit for the most honored in Jerusalem, and secured Him an honorable burial instead of the dishonored burial given to those executed as criminals. Nicodemus had believed but held back from open discipleship for fear of losing his place on the council, yet what he had heard from Jesus and what he saw of Christ's patient bearing at the cross turned his doubt into steadfast faith. He therefore came forward boldly when the disciples were scattered and afraid, using his wealth, influence, and honored standing to openly honor and serve Jesus in shame and death, and in this tender care by the rich the prophecy that Christ would be with the rich in His death was fulfilled.

Burial Preparation and Honor

Nicodemus brought about a hundred pounds weight of a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' body for burial. He came anticipating that Joseph of Arimathea would obtain the body, and used his wealth to help honor Jesus in death though he had not openly accepted Him while He lived. The spices were used with linen cloths and ointments according to the burial custom of the time as a form of embalming. With the linen sheet the body was wrapped and then laid in Joseph's new tomb.

That lavish, costly provision gave Jesus extraordinary honor in death. It showed Him the respect given to Jerusalem's most honored people. Nicodemus shared the burial expenses with Joseph of Arimathea in this open honoring of Jesus. People executed for alleged treason against Rome were ordinarily taken down by soldiers and buried in ground reserved for criminals under death sentence. But Joseph obtained the body from Pilate, and Nicodemus joined him and the women in caring for the body to secure an honorable burial and prevent a dishonored burial.

Nicodemus was a wealthy, honored member of the Sanhedrin who knew Pilate. His wealth and influence enabled him to help when the disciples had no influence with the authorities. He boldly aided them when they were too disheartened and afraid to act openly, doing what they could not do under the protection his honored position gave him.

Nicodemus's Secret to Open Faith

Nicodemus is the man who at first came to Jesus by night, who believed in Jesus but had not openly joined himself to Him while He was alive. He held back from open declaration because he feared losing his place on the council and the influence he could use to help or protect Jesus.

He had challenged the grounds for Jesus' condemnation and protested His arrest, but the priests secured the condemnation through a secret council to which he was not summoned. He was among those kept away from the mock trial by appointment to apparently important work, where his voice might have opposed the measures being taken. He and Joseph of Arimathea had not been summoned to the council that condemned Jesus, and they could not change or lessen His sentence at the crucifixion.

The teaching he had heard from Jesus and remembered, and what he witnessed at the cross, turned his doubt into faith. Having seen Jesus' cruel treatment and patient, Godlike bearing, he now saw the high priest's character more clearly. His faith, awakened by Jesus' teaching, was strengthened by witnessing His death, marking his change from a cautious, questioning secret follower to a firm and courageous disciple.

At the burial he boldly showed his attachment and devotion, openly honoring and serving Jesus in shame and death. His costly service in bringing about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes and joining Joseph of Arimathea to prepare the body showed that his earlier private faith had become open and steadfast. He came forward at a time of danger when the disciples were discouraged, scattered, disheartened and afraid to act openly, doing what they could not do. As a wealthy and honored member of the Sanhedrin who knew Pilate, he boldly used his means, standing, and the protection his honored position gave him to aid them when they had no influence with the authorities.

Prophecy and Divine Care

After not openly acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah during His life, Nicodemus came forward together with Joseph to care for His body in death. They did prompt, tender work, bringing spices to wrap the body and help prevent decay, though such preservation was unnecessary because His body was not to see corruption. That care fulfilled the prophetic history that Christ would be with the rich in His death, for He was laid in a new tomb distinct from others, providing clear evidence. While His followers thus honored His body and laid it in the tomb, angels watched over the resting place.