Luke 23:53
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
The tomb was Joseph of Arimathea's own new tomb, hewn in stone near Calvary, which he had been reserving for himself and in which no one had ever before been laid. It was a rock-hewn sepulchre prepared for Jesus after He was taken down, wrapped in linen, and laid there. Joseph and Nicodemus together performed the last rites and laid the body in that new tomb where no one had previously been buried.
The body was lifted with gentle and reverent hands from the instrument of torture amid falling tears, bathed and cleansed from the stain of blood, and wrapped in a fine linen sheet together with burial spices, ointments, myrrh and aloes according to burial custom. Three disciples bore the precious burden to the new sepulchre, straightened the mangled limbs, and folded the bruised hands upon the pulseless breast. His body was thus treated with care and honor, wrapped with burial spices and placed in the tomb.
Joseph obtained the body from Pilate after the death was confirmed, and then Joseph and Nicodemus cared for its preparation and laying in the tomb. Nicodemus brought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, an offering showing that Jesus was given the respect accorded the most honoured people in Jerusalem.
This burial spared Jesus the burial normally given to those executed for treason against Rome and for opposing Roman rule, in which common soldiers took the body down and consigned it to a burial ground reserved exclusively for criminals who suffered the extreme penalty. John feared the body of his Master would be handled by rough and unfeeling soldiers without respect and placed in a dishonored burial place. He knew he could obtain no favor from the Jewish authorities and little influence with Pilate to prevent it.
Joseph and Nicodemus stepped forward in the emergency to prevent this dishonored burial. Both were members of the Sanhedrin acquainted with Pilate, and both were men of wealth and influence, determined that the body should have an honorable burial.
The Galilean women, Mary Magdalene and the other Marys, drew near to see that all had been done that could be done, and watched until the body was laid. They saw the heavy stone rolled against the entrance and closing the tomb. They lingered weeping about the sacred resting place while the evening shades gathered, last at the cross and last at the tomb. They prepared spices before the Sabbath and came early on the first day of the week to anoint Him, but found the tomb open and empty.
The burial gave Jesus a cared-for and honored resting-place which His grieving disciples had wanted for Him. Closed with a heavy stone, the tomb became the place where He lay at rest before the resurrection. There angels watched, awaiting the command to release Him from death.