He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and honored counsellor of the Sanhedrin and a true though hitherto concealed disciple, went privately yet boldly to Pilate, with whom he was acquainted, to beg the body of Jesus. He acted with Nicodemus to secure an honored resting place because Jesus had been executed under charge of treason against Rome and would otherwise have been buried in a dishonored grave for condemned criminals, a favor the poor and powerless disciples who loved Him could not obtain. Pilate did not grant the request at once, for he learned for the first time from Joseph that Jesus was really dead, and having been warned against deception he sent for the centurion at the cross to hear for a certainty that He was dead and to hear the fearful scenes of Calvary, being surprised that He died when the darkness passed away since crucified men often lingered for days. Then, believing more firmly that Jesus was innocent and no ordinary man, Pilate commanded the body to be delivered to Joseph, enabling Joseph and Nicodemus to gently take it down and reverently prepare it and lay it in Joseph's own new tomb near Calvary before the Sabbath began. The taking down was in renewed sorrow and deep anguish over blighted hopes that Jesus would deliver Israel, yet He came forth from that tomb on the resurrection morning as a triumphant conqueror, restoring their hope.
Securing an Honorable Burial
Joseph of Arimathea went privately yet boldly to Pilate to beg the body of Jesus, acting privately because hatred was so great that open action was feared to bring an effort to prevent an honored resting place. He was an honorable counsellor and true disciple, a wealthy and honored member of the Sanhedrin acquainted with Pilate. He acted together with Nicodemus, another influential member of the Sanhedrin who knew Pilate.
Joseph and Nicodemus had kept their attachment to Jesus concealed while He lived, but now openly helped Him after His death on behalf of the disciples. Their wealth and influence helped protect them from the priests and rulers. The disciples loved Jesus and counted His body very precious, but did not know how to obtain it and could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities. John with the women from Galilee remained at the cross, and John dreaded the thought of unfeeling soldiers handling the body, yet he had no influence with Pilate to prevent it and the poor disciples could not provide the needed care.
Intervention was needed because Jesus had been executed under the alleged charge of treason against Rome, and those put to death for that crime were ordinarily buried in a place reserved for condemned criminals in a dishonored grave. Joseph and Nicodemus were determined to prevent such a dishonored burial and secure honorable treatment. Pilate granted the request and officially commanded the body to be delivered to Joseph, which enabled Joseph to care for and prepare it for burial. Joseph and Nicodemus then gently took the body down and reverently prepared it, and Joseph laid it in his own new tomb near Calvary, while Nicodemus made ready for the burial while Joseph was gone to Pilate and the women watched and grieved nearby.
Pilate Verifies Jesus' Death
Pilate did not grant Joseph's request for the body at once, because the priests and rulers had charged him and his officers to guard against any deception the disciples might attempt with the body of their Master. It was from Joseph that Pilate learned for the first time that Jesus was really dead, for knowledge of Christ's death had been purposely kept from him even though conflicting reports about the crucifixion and its strange events had reached him. At Joseph's request Pilate sent for the centurion in command of the soldiers at the cross and heard for a certainty from him that Jesus was dead. At Pilate's earnest request the centurion recounted the fearful scenes of Calvary, and his account corroborated Joseph's testimony.
Joseph told Pilate that Jesus died at the very moment the mysterious darkness over the earth passed away. Pilate was surprised at this, because crucified men often lingered for days on the cross. He speedily granted the request because he firmly believed Jesus innocent, and what he heard made him believe more firmly that Jesus was no ordinary man. The testimony left him strangely agitated and keenly regretting his part in condemning Jesus.
Grief, Sabbath, and Resurrection
The body was taken down from the cross in renewed sorrow and deep anguish over blighted hopes. The disciples had believed Jesus would deliver Israel, so His crucifixion killed their hopes and His burial left them in terrible anguish feeling they had lost their Lord. They saw Him treated as a sinner and as a criminal despite being undeserving, and in their grief they felt the loss of a living Saviour whose worth they had not fully appreciated. The verse belongs to the account of the disciples following Jesus to Calvary, witnessing His death, and laying Him in the tomb. Their hopes were not fulfilled as they expected, and their grief seemed complete.
The body was placed in Joseph's tomb before the Sabbath began so the disciples could keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. The two Marys remained at the tomb, and the Sabbath was marked by grief for the disciples. The burial took place while the Passover was being observed, after the antitypical Lamb had been slain. While Jesus lay in Joseph's tomb after His execution, the afflicted mourned the loss of the healer they had hoped to see. Those who had come hoping for healing could no longer seek help from Him, so the sick suffered and died without the healing touch they had hoped to receive.
The body laid in Joseph's tomb is connected with the priests' fear that Jesus would rise, because they had witnessed Him raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples, restoring their hope. Finding the tomb empty amazed them after their anguish over losing their Lord. He came forth on the morning of the resurrection as a triumphant conqueror, and a multitude of saints came from their graves with Him to testify to the power of the risen Saviour.
Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and honored counsellor of the Sanhedrin and a true though hitherto concealed disciple, went privately yet boldly to Pilate, with whom he was acquainted, to beg the body of Jesus. He acted with Nicodemus to secure an honored resting place because Jesus had been executed under charge of treason against Rome and would otherwise have been buried in a dishonored grave for condemned criminals, a favor the poor and powerless disciples who loved Him could not obtain. Pilate did not grant the request at once, for he learned for the first time from Joseph that Jesus was really dead, and having been warned against deception he sent for the centurion at the cross to hear for a certainty that He was dead and to hear the fearful scenes of Calvary, being surprised that He died when the darkness passed away since crucified men often lingered for days. Then, believing more firmly that Jesus was innocent and no ordinary man, Pilate commanded the body to be delivered to Joseph, enabling Joseph and Nicodemus to gently take it down and reverently prepare it and lay it in Joseph's own new tomb near Calvary before the Sabbath began. The taking down was in renewed sorrow and deep anguish over blighted hopes that Jesus would deliver Israel, yet He came forth from that tomb on the resurrection morning as a triumphant conqueror, restoring their hope.
Securing an Honorable Burial
Joseph of Arimathea went privately yet boldly to Pilate to beg the body of Jesus, acting privately because hatred was so great that open action was feared to bring an effort to prevent an honored resting place. He was an honorable counsellor and true disciple, a wealthy and honored member of the Sanhedrin acquainted with Pilate. He acted together with Nicodemus, another influential member of the Sanhedrin who knew Pilate.
Joseph and Nicodemus had kept their attachment to Jesus concealed while He lived, but now openly helped Him after His death on behalf of the disciples. Their wealth and influence helped protect them from the priests and rulers. The disciples loved Jesus and counted His body very precious, but did not know how to obtain it and could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities. John with the women from Galilee remained at the cross, and John dreaded the thought of unfeeling soldiers handling the body, yet he had no influence with Pilate to prevent it and the poor disciples could not provide the needed care.
Intervention was needed because Jesus had been executed under the alleged charge of treason against Rome, and those put to death for that crime were ordinarily buried in a place reserved for condemned criminals in a dishonored grave. Joseph and Nicodemus were determined to prevent such a dishonored burial and secure honorable treatment. Pilate granted the request and officially commanded the body to be delivered to Joseph, which enabled Joseph to care for and prepare it for burial. Joseph and Nicodemus then gently took the body down and reverently prepared it, and Joseph laid it in his own new tomb near Calvary, while Nicodemus made ready for the burial while Joseph was gone to Pilate and the women watched and grieved nearby.
Pilate Verifies Jesus' Death
Pilate did not grant Joseph's request for the body at once, because the priests and rulers had charged him and his officers to guard against any deception the disciples might attempt with the body of their Master. It was from Joseph that Pilate learned for the first time that Jesus was really dead, for knowledge of Christ's death had been purposely kept from him even though conflicting reports about the crucifixion and its strange events had reached him. At Joseph's request Pilate sent for the centurion in command of the soldiers at the cross and heard for a certainty from him that Jesus was dead. At Pilate's earnest request the centurion recounted the fearful scenes of Calvary, and his account corroborated Joseph's testimony.
Joseph told Pilate that Jesus died at the very moment the mysterious darkness over the earth passed away. Pilate was surprised at this, because crucified men often lingered for days on the cross. He speedily granted the request because he firmly believed Jesus innocent, and what he heard made him believe more firmly that Jesus was no ordinary man. The testimony left him strangely agitated and keenly regretting his part in condemning Jesus.
Grief, Sabbath, and Resurrection
The body was taken down from the cross in renewed sorrow and deep anguish over blighted hopes. The disciples had believed Jesus would deliver Israel, so His crucifixion killed their hopes and His burial left them in terrible anguish feeling they had lost their Lord. They saw Him treated as a sinner and as a criminal despite being undeserving, and in their grief they felt the loss of a living Saviour whose worth they had not fully appreciated. The verse belongs to the account of the disciples following Jesus to Calvary, witnessing His death, and laying Him in the tomb. Their hopes were not fulfilled as they expected, and their grief seemed complete.
The body was placed in Joseph's tomb before the Sabbath began so the disciples could keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. The two Marys remained at the tomb, and the Sabbath was marked by grief for the disciples. The burial took place while the Passover was being observed, after the antitypical Lamb had been slain. While Jesus lay in Joseph's tomb after His execution, the afflicted mourned the loss of the healer they had hoped to see. Those who had come hoping for healing could no longer seek help from Him, so the sick suffered and died without the healing touch they had hoped to receive.
The body laid in Joseph's tomb is connected with the priests' fear that Jesus would rise, because they had witnessed Him raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples, restoring their hope. Finding the tomb empty amazed them after their anguish over losing their Lord. He came forth on the morning of the resurrection as a triumphant conqueror, and a multitude of saints came from their graves with Him to testify to the power of the risen Saviour.