This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
This man was Joseph of Arimathea, a rich, honorable counsellor of the Sanhedrin who had not consented to condemn Jesus, waited for the kingdom of God, and was His true but formerly secret disciple for fear of the Jews. Though fearful before, he now went privately yet boldly to Pilate to beg the body because the disciples longed to honor it but could obtain nothing from the Jews, and without haste it would have been cast with the thieves into the criminals' burial ground as one executed for treason against Rome. Pilate had been kept from knowing Jesus was truly dead and had been warned against deception over the body, so he withheld consent until he summoned the centurion at the cross and learned for certain that Jesus was dead. By official order he then gave the body to Joseph, whose standing with the governor secured the grant. That grant enabled Joseph with Nicodemus, who brought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, to take Jesus from the cross and lay Him with highest honor in Joseph's new tomb near Calvary.
Joseph and His Request
The man who went to Pilate was Joseph of Arimathea, a counsellor and member of the Sanhedrin who was good and just and waited for the kingdom of God, who had not consented to the counsel and deed of the others in condemning Jesus. He was honorable, wealthy and influential, acquainted with Pilate, and a true disciple of Christ. His richness, wealth and influence gave him standing with the governor to make the request.
Though in the past he had not openly identified himself with Christ for fear of the Jews, after the crucifixion he went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. That going was both private, because he feared Jewish hostility, and yet bold. He went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body, and with Nicodemus stepped forward to secure it.
He acted because the followers of Jesus wanted to honor His body but feared that the Jews would prevent Him from receiving an honored burial. John was anxious and troubled about the sacred remains of his Master, shuddered at the thought of their being handled by rough and unfeeling soldiers and placed in a dishonored burial place. John did not know what measures to take, and could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities and little hope from Pilate, so in that emergency Joseph and Nicodemus came to the front, determined that the body of Jesus should have an honorable burial that John himself could not obtain.
The need was urgent because Jesus had been executed on the alleged charge of treason against the Roman government. Those put to death for that offense were taken down by common soldiers and consigned to a burial ground reserved exclusively for that class of criminals. Had Joseph delayed, the body of the Saviour would have been placed with the bodies of the thieves in a dishonored grave instead of receiving an honorable burial.
The request came after the death of Jesus. It took place as people were making inquiries about His death and many were becoming convinced that Scripture had been fulfilled.
Pilate Verifies and Grants
Joseph's request brought Pilate his first certain knowledge that Jesus was really dead, for conflicting reports about the crucifixion had reached him and knowledge of Christ's death had been purposely kept from him. The priests and rulers had warned Pilate and his officers to guard against any deception by Christ's disciples concerning His body and the body of their Master.
For that reason Pilate did not grant Joseph's request at once but first sent for the centurion in charge and in command of the soldiers at the cross. From that centurion's lips he heard and learned for certain that Jesus was dead. Then at his earnest request Pilate drew from the centurion a recounting of the fearful scenes at Calvary, which corroborated and confirmed Joseph's testimony.
Only after confirming that Jesus was dead did Pilate grant the request. He granted it by an official order that the body of Jesus should be given to Joseph. With that commission from the governor Joseph returned. Joseph was a rich, wealthy and influential man, an honorable councilor acquainted with Pilate, and this richness and influence gave him standing with the governor to make the request. That wealth and influence also enabled Joseph and Nicodemus to provide for their dead Master and helped shield them from the priests' hostility, so that Pilate's grant allowed the disciples to give Jesus an honored burial.
Honorable Burial Secured
The grant made it possible for Joseph and Nicodemus to step forward in the emergency and secure an honorable burial for Jesus. Both were members of the Sanhedrin acquainted with Pilate and both men of wealth and influence, determined that His body should have an honorable burial. John did not know what measures to take for the body of his Master, shuddered at the thought of its being handled by rough and unfeeling soldiers and placed in a dishonored burial place, and could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities and little hope from Pilate. This was urgent because Jesus had been executed on the alleged charge of treason against the Roman government, and those put to death for that offense were taken down by common soldiers and consigned to a burial ground reserved exclusively for that class of criminals. Their wealth and influence enabled them to provide for their dead Master and helped shield them from the priests' hostility.
Once the request was granted they openly showed their attachment to Jesus by helping with His burial, removing Him from the cross, preparing His body with spices, and laying Him in Joseph's new tomb near Calvary. Nicodemus, anticipating the result of Joseph's interview with Pilate, came with a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes of about one hundred pounds weight. The respect shown to Jesus in death was as great as could have been shown to the most honored in all Jerusalem. The women's preparation to anoint that body and their visit to the tomb came after this burial.
Jesus of Nazareth the Saviour and Healer was thus laid in state in Joseph's tomb and lay dead there during the memorable Passover, absent from the feast. Hundreds had brought afflicted relatives and friends expecting healing and salvation from His touch. They were left disappointed, mourning, and dying for want of Him, because no physician had skill like His.
This man was Joseph of Arimathea, a rich, honorable counsellor of the Sanhedrin who had not consented to condemn Jesus, waited for the kingdom of God, and was His true but formerly secret disciple for fear of the Jews. Though fearful before, he now went privately yet boldly to Pilate to beg the body because the disciples longed to honor it but could obtain nothing from the Jews, and without haste it would have been cast with the thieves into the criminals' burial ground as one executed for treason against Rome. Pilate had been kept from knowing Jesus was truly dead and had been warned against deception over the body, so he withheld consent until he summoned the centurion at the cross and learned for certain that Jesus was dead. By official order he then gave the body to Joseph, whose standing with the governor secured the grant. That grant enabled Joseph with Nicodemus, who brought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, to take Jesus from the cross and lay Him with highest honor in Joseph's new tomb near Calvary.
Joseph and His Request
The man who went to Pilate was Joseph of Arimathea, a counsellor and member of the Sanhedrin who was good and just and waited for the kingdom of God, who had not consented to the counsel and deed of the others in condemning Jesus. He was honorable, wealthy and influential, acquainted with Pilate, and a true disciple of Christ. His richness, wealth and influence gave him standing with the governor to make the request.
Though in the past he had not openly identified himself with Christ for fear of the Jews, after the crucifixion he went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. That going was both private, because he feared Jewish hostility, and yet bold. He went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body, and with Nicodemus stepped forward to secure it.
He acted because the followers of Jesus wanted to honor His body but feared that the Jews would prevent Him from receiving an honored burial. John was anxious and troubled about the sacred remains of his Master, shuddered at the thought of their being handled by rough and unfeeling soldiers and placed in a dishonored burial place. John did not know what measures to take, and could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities and little hope from Pilate, so in that emergency Joseph and Nicodemus came to the front, determined that the body of Jesus should have an honorable burial that John himself could not obtain.
The need was urgent because Jesus had been executed on the alleged charge of treason against the Roman government. Those put to death for that offense were taken down by common soldiers and consigned to a burial ground reserved exclusively for that class of criminals. Had Joseph delayed, the body of the Saviour would have been placed with the bodies of the thieves in a dishonored grave instead of receiving an honorable burial.
The request came after the death of Jesus. It took place as people were making inquiries about His death and many were becoming convinced that Scripture had been fulfilled.
Pilate Verifies and Grants
Joseph's request brought Pilate his first certain knowledge that Jesus was really dead, for conflicting reports about the crucifixion had reached him and knowledge of Christ's death had been purposely kept from him. The priests and rulers had warned Pilate and his officers to guard against any deception by Christ's disciples concerning His body and the body of their Master.
For that reason Pilate did not grant Joseph's request at once but first sent for the centurion in charge and in command of the soldiers at the cross. From that centurion's lips he heard and learned for certain that Jesus was dead. Then at his earnest request Pilate drew from the centurion a recounting of the fearful scenes at Calvary, which corroborated and confirmed Joseph's testimony.
Only after confirming that Jesus was dead did Pilate grant the request. He granted it by an official order that the body of Jesus should be given to Joseph. With that commission from the governor Joseph returned. Joseph was a rich, wealthy and influential man, an honorable councilor acquainted with Pilate, and this richness and influence gave him standing with the governor to make the request. That wealth and influence also enabled Joseph and Nicodemus to provide for their dead Master and helped shield them from the priests' hostility, so that Pilate's grant allowed the disciples to give Jesus an honored burial.
Honorable Burial Secured
The grant made it possible for Joseph and Nicodemus to step forward in the emergency and secure an honorable burial for Jesus. Both were members of the Sanhedrin acquainted with Pilate and both men of wealth and influence, determined that His body should have an honorable burial. John did not know what measures to take for the body of his Master, shuddered at the thought of its being handled by rough and unfeeling soldiers and placed in a dishonored burial place, and could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities and little hope from Pilate. This was urgent because Jesus had been executed on the alleged charge of treason against the Roman government, and those put to death for that offense were taken down by common soldiers and consigned to a burial ground reserved exclusively for that class of criminals. Their wealth and influence enabled them to provide for their dead Master and helped shield them from the priests' hostility.
Once the request was granted they openly showed their attachment to Jesus by helping with His burial, removing Him from the cross, preparing His body with spices, and laying Him in Joseph's new tomb near Calvary. Nicodemus, anticipating the result of Joseph's interview with Pilate, came with a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes of about one hundred pounds weight. The respect shown to Jesus in death was as great as could have been shown to the most honored in all Jerusalem. The women's preparation to anoint that body and their visit to the tomb came after this burial.
Jesus of Nazareth the Saviour and Healer was thus laid in state in Joseph's tomb and lay dead there during the memorable Passover, absent from the feast. Hundreds had brought afflicted relatives and friends expecting healing and salvation from His touch. They were left disappointed, mourning, and dying for want of Him, because no physician had skill like His.