Matthew 27:60
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Joseph laid Jesus in his own new tomb hewn from rock near Calvary, in which no one had ever lain, and rolled a great stone to close its door. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus reverently cleansed the bruised body, wrapped it in fine linen with about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, and thus spared Him the dishonored burial of criminals executed for treason. The burial was hurried because the Sabbath was near, and He rested in the tomb over the Sabbath as the slain Passover Lamb before rising on the morning of the third day. Though the stone was sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers, a mighty angel rolled it back as a pebble and He came forth glorified, whom no earthly barrier could hold. His lying there paid the redemption price for a fallen world, and because He is risen and lives to intercede, those who look to Him need not mourn without hope as though He were still shut in the tomb.
Honored Burial in New Tomb
The tomb was Joseph of Arimathea's own new tomb, hewn out of rock near Calvary, which he had built and reserved for himself and in which no one had ever lain, now given and prepared for Jesus. It had never before held a body, and after the body was wrapped with spices in linen it was laid there. This honored burial spared Jesus the dishonored burial given to those put to death for treason against the Roman government. Their bodies were handled by unfeeling soldiers and consigned to a burial ground set apart for such criminals, and John shuddered at the thought of his beloved Master being treated in that way and buried in a dishonored grave, though he had no influence with Pilate to prevent it.
The burial was carried out by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, rich and honored rulers and members of the Sanhedrim, men of wealth and influence acquainted with Pilate, whose means enabled them to act when the poor disciples loved Jesus and honored His body but did not know how to obtain it. Joseph was an honorable counsellor and secret disciple made bold, who openly and boldly begged Pilate for the body despite the danger from the hatred of the Jews lest they prevent an honored resting place. Pilate granted the request after learning that Christ was really dead, and while Joseph was gone Nicodemus made ready for the burial. With tears of sympathy they themselves gently and reverently took down the bruised and torn body from the cross, bathed and cleansed it from blood, straightened the mangled limbs and folded the bruised hands upon the breast, upon the pulseless breast. They wrapped it in fine linen with spices according to the Jewish custom of wrapping the bodies of the dead in linen cloths with precious ointments and sweet spices as a method of embalming.
Nicodemus brought a costly gift of about a hundred pounds weight of myrrh and aloes, showing more respect in death than could have been shown to the most honored in all Jerusalem, which astonished the humble followers to see these wealthy rulers taking such an interest in the burial of their Master. The body then lay in state as it was borne to the tomb. A heavy stone of great weight was rolled to the door of the sepulchre to close it, intended to keep enemies from obtaining the body, and Jesus was left at rest, the Son of God at rest, the Saviour left at rest. The Galilean women, including Mary Magdalene and the other Marys who had humbly followed Jesus in life, would not leave until they saw the sacred body laid there and the stone placed. Last at the cross and last at the tomb, they drew near to see that all had been done that could be done for their Teacher, lingering weeping about the resting-place as evening gathered and shedding tears of sorrow over Him whom they loved.
The burial was hurried because the Sabbath was near, so the work was done before the Sabbath began. Jesus rested in the tomb over the Sabbath while the disciples and the women returned and rested according to the commandment. He lay there while the Passover was being observed, having been slain as the Lamb prefigured by the Passover, and rose on the morning of the third day. The disciples had forgotten His words foretelling His death, and seeing Him die and be laid in the tomb left them without hope, with renewed sorrow and anguish over blighted hopes. They grieved as if their hopes of an earthly kingdom had died with Him, not yet grasping the worth of the living Saviour, until His resurrection and appearance revived their hope. Joseph and Nicodemus, by contrast, remembered His words and were convinced He was the true Messiah.
Sealed Tomb and Resurrection
The tomb was closed with a great stone at its entrance and guarded with the greatest care, the Roman seal being placed upon the stone in such a way that it could not be moved without breaking the seal. A watch of Roman soldiers was set around it to keep strict watch lest the body be stolen or molested, some constantly pacing to and fro before it while others rested on the ground nearby. The priests feared the body would come forth to life, a fear sharpened by having seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.
That fear of men taking the body was needless, for the angelic host watched the resting place with untold interest and guarded the sepulchre. Mighty angels from heaven also guarded it, earnestly awaiting the command to act their part in liberating the King of glory from His prison house. Any one of them by putting forth his power could have stricken down the whole Roman army.
On the morning of the third day the angel of God came and rolled back the stone as though it were a pebble, heaven's glory lighting the tomb, and a voice from heaven woke the Sleeper, and Christ walked forth a triumphant conqueror. When the Roman guards saw the angel they dropped as dead men to the ground because they could not endure his glory. Fallen humanity could not endure even an angel's glory, which shows why Christ veiled His divinity in humanity so that people could draw near to Him.
No earthly barrier could hold Him, for the decree of heaven loosed Him and He came forth from the tomb glorified. Even mountains piled upon mountains over His sepulchre could not have prevented Him from coming forth. The glorified one who left the tomb is the same prisoner seen crowned with thorns standing unresisting before Pilate and Herod, lacerated by the scourge, nailed to the cross and mocked by priests and rulers, whom the Roman guard beheld and recognized risen.
The guards went into the city and told that Christ had risen and the disciples had not stolen Him away. The priests and rulers bribed them to testify to a lie for fear the people would stone them. A multitude arose with Christ and went into the city testifying that Christ was risen and they were risen with Him, so the lying report had little effect.
Redemption Finished and Applied
The Prince of life was taken by wicked hands and slain, killed in spotless purity as a disturber of the peace and customs of the people, and then lay in Joseph's new tomb. He descended into the grave as the Sin-bearer, opening a grave for the sins of all who accept Him as their personal Saviour. The night He lay there was the darkest night the church had ever known, yet His lying there meant the redemption price for a fallen world had been paid, the sacrifice for sin had been offered, and all heaven was triumphant.
He came forth from that prison of death after three days as a triumphant conqueror, proclaiming Himself the resurrection and the life. His victory made freedom from sin and death possible for those who believe in Him. He also brought a multitude of saints out of their graves to testify to the power of the risen Saviour.
He is no longer lying in Joseph's tomb, for He is risen and reigns as Saviour and King. He has ascended to heaven, where He lives to make intercession on behalf of His people. The tomb is therefore not a place for hopeless mourning.
Because He so loved and died, those who look to Him as Redeemer need not despair or mourn as those without hope. To act as though He were still shut in the tomb denies Him as the risen, living Saviour and Head of the Church. They can instead be cheerful and rejoice and not be cast down and oppressed when trials come, even the hardest trials from brethren and familiar friends, which may be borne with patience. Through Him they may have hope and strength and courage and a place with Him upon His throne, for He is able and willing to help whenever they call upon Him.