Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
The body of Jesus was wound in linen clothes with spices according to the burial custom of the Jews, which was their manner of embalming. It was handled carefully, reverently and tenderly in fine linen, with spices meant to prevent decay, and laid without delay in Joseph's own new tomb near Calvary with a heavy stone rolled across the entrance. The women who followed Him remained until they saw the body laid and the burial finished, fearing enemies might take it, while angels guarded the tomb awaiting the command to release Him. Joseph and Nicodemus, men of wealth and influence, boldly paid for and provided an honorable burial when the disciples were afraid to come forward, bringing about one hundred pounds of costly myrrh and aloes worthy of the most honored person in Jerusalem, rather than leaving Him to rough soldiers and the burial ground for condemned criminals. They openly honored Him in death after concealing their attachment while He lived, yet the tender preparation against decay was unnecessary because His body was not to see corruption, and His laying in a new tomb fulfilled the prophecy that He would be with the rich in His death.
Burial Practice and Setting
The verse describes the taking of the body of Jesus and winding it in linen clothes with spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. This wrapping in linen with spices according to Jewish custom was a form of embalming. The costly mixture brought for the purpose was myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.
The lifeless body was handled carefully and reverently and wrapped respectfully in fine linen. Joseph and Nicodemus tenderly performed the wrapping with the spices Nicodemus had brought. The spices were intended to prevent decay.
The burial was carried out without delay, and after preparation the body was taken to the tomb and laid in Joseph's own new tomb near Calvary. A heavy stone was rolled across the entrance. The women who had followed Jesus stayed until they saw the body laid there and the burial completed. They feared that enemies might take the body, but angels guarded the tomb while waiting for the command to release him.
Those executed for alleged treason against Rome were ordinarily taken down by soldiers and buried in a place reserved for criminals who had suffered the death penalty. The burial account itself does not explain the linen and spices mentioned in the verse.
Honorable Burial and Meaning
Those put to death as criminals could be left to rough, unfeeling soldiers and laid in a burial ground set apart for condemned offenders who had suffered the death penalty for an offense against the Roman government. John feared that Jesus' body would be so handled and placed in such a dishonored grave, and he had no influence with Pilate to prevent it. But Joseph and Nicodemus were determined that Jesus should receive an honorable burial rather than that dishonored burial.
Joseph received the body, and Joseph and Nicodemus as men of wealth and influence secured it for burial. They paid for the burial and boldly performed this service when the disciples were afraid to come forward. Nicodemus brought a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds, a very large quantity. That costly provision gave Jesus an exceptionally honored burial, worthy of the most honored person in Jerusalem, and the care shown in death displayed the respect due to Him. In this they openly honored Jesus in death after keeping their attachment to Him concealed while He lived, when open support could have cost them their standing in the Sanhedrin.
They tenderly wrapped the body in linen with the spices, intending to prevent decay, yet that preparation was unnecessary because His body was not to see corruption. The burial was carried out without delay, and He was laid in a new tomb. So to be with the rich in His death fulfilled prophecy.
The body of Jesus was wound in linen clothes with spices according to the burial custom of the Jews, which was their manner of embalming. It was handled carefully, reverently and tenderly in fine linen, with spices meant to prevent decay, and laid without delay in Joseph's own new tomb near Calvary with a heavy stone rolled across the entrance. The women who followed Him remained until they saw the body laid and the burial finished, fearing enemies might take it, while angels guarded the tomb awaiting the command to release Him. Joseph and Nicodemus, men of wealth and influence, boldly paid for and provided an honorable burial when the disciples were afraid to come forward, bringing about one hundred pounds of costly myrrh and aloes worthy of the most honored person in Jerusalem, rather than leaving Him to rough soldiers and the burial ground for condemned criminals. They openly honored Him in death after concealing their attachment while He lived, yet the tender preparation against decay was unnecessary because His body was not to see corruption, and His laying in a new tomb fulfilled the prophecy that He would be with the rich in His death.
Burial Practice and Setting
The verse describes the taking of the body of Jesus and winding it in linen clothes with spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. This wrapping in linen with spices according to Jewish custom was a form of embalming. The costly mixture brought for the purpose was myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.
The lifeless body was handled carefully and reverently and wrapped respectfully in fine linen. Joseph and Nicodemus tenderly performed the wrapping with the spices Nicodemus had brought. The spices were intended to prevent decay.
The burial was carried out without delay, and after preparation the body was taken to the tomb and laid in Joseph's own new tomb near Calvary. A heavy stone was rolled across the entrance. The women who had followed Jesus stayed until they saw the body laid there and the burial completed. They feared that enemies might take the body, but angels guarded the tomb while waiting for the command to release him.
Those executed for alleged treason against Rome were ordinarily taken down by soldiers and buried in a place reserved for criminals who had suffered the death penalty. The burial account itself does not explain the linen and spices mentioned in the verse.
Honorable Burial and Meaning
Those put to death as criminals could be left to rough, unfeeling soldiers and laid in a burial ground set apart for condemned offenders who had suffered the death penalty for an offense against the Roman government. John feared that Jesus' body would be so handled and placed in such a dishonored grave, and he had no influence with Pilate to prevent it. But Joseph and Nicodemus were determined that Jesus should receive an honorable burial rather than that dishonored burial.
Joseph received the body, and Joseph and Nicodemus as men of wealth and influence secured it for burial. They paid for the burial and boldly performed this service when the disciples were afraid to come forward. Nicodemus brought a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds, a very large quantity. That costly provision gave Jesus an exceptionally honored burial, worthy of the most honored person in Jerusalem, and the care shown in death displayed the respect due to Him. In this they openly honored Jesus in death after keeping their attachment to Him concealed while He lived, when open support could have cost them their standing in the Sanhedrin.
They tenderly wrapped the body in linen with the spices, intending to prevent decay, yet that preparation was unnecessary because His body was not to see corruption. The burial was carried out without delay, and He was laid in a new tomb. So to be with the rich in His death fulfilled prophecy.