THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY AND HIS CRUCIFIXION

Jesus’ Body is Buried and Guarded

-Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

-John’s account reminds us that the approaching day was the Sabbath and since this

 particular Sabbath occurred in conjunction with the Passover, it was considered a ‘high day’

 (John 19:31).  As a result, and in accordance with Deuteronomy 21:23, the Jews requested

 the hastening of the crucifixion victims’ deaths by the means of breaking their legs.

            -It’s quite amazing to consider the fact that the Jewish leaders were so concerned about the

             Sabbath while having a just and righteous man - the Son of God - crucified.  Truly, they strained

             out the gnat and swallowed the camel. 

            -“The Romans left the bodies of criminals hanging upon the cross until beasts and birds of

             prey, or putrefaction, removed them” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 733).  However, in this

             case, Pilate granted the Jewish leaders their request.

            -“Breaking the legs was a barbarous method to hasten death.  Something like a sledge

             hammer was used crushing the legs and the shock would bring speedy death” (Lipscomb,

             pg 303).

-Having broken the legs of the two thieves the soldiers then came to Jesus and found Him to be

 dead already.  Therefore, His legs were not broken. 

            -When instructions were given in Exodus 12 pertaining to the preparation of the Passover

             lamb, it was specified that its bones were not to be broken (see vs 46).  Hence in the

             significance of symbolism it was necessary that Jesus’ bones remain unbroken - “...For even

             Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7).  See also Psalm 34:20.

-“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 

 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye

 might believe” (John 19:34-35).

            -Evidently the soldier stabbed Jesus in the side in order to make certain that He was indeed dead.

             Unknowingly, he contributed to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy - Zech. 12.10.

            -“From the side thus pierced there came forth both blood and water.  There has been much

             speculation about this and various conclusions have been drawn, not only with reference to why

             this occurred but what it signified...In view of the fact that John, an eyewitness, offered no

             explanation, thus regarding this development as exceptional, should make subsequent students

             hesitant to be dogmatic in the matter...It is apparent that the writer’s real purpose was to show,

             beyond any possible doubt, that Jesus was in a physical human body and that he actually died

             on the cross.  On this the truth of Christianity depends.  These facts are incontrovertible:  (1) the

             authorities believed he was dead; (2) the soldiers believed he was dead; (3) the soldier who

             stabbed him assured that he was dead; (4) those who loved him most knew he was dead and

             buried his body.  Thus the fact of death was established both by friends and by enemies”

             (Woods, pg 411).

                        -Therefore, the notion advanced by skeptics that Jesus merely passed out while on the cross

                         and later regained his consciousness after being placed in the tomb is utterly ludicrous.

-Joseph of Arimathaea (described as a disciple of Jesus - although secretly up to this point for

 fear of the Jews, a rich man, an honourable counsellor, a good man, a just man, one who waited on

 the kingdom of God, one who had not consented to the decisions or actions of the Jewish council)

 went boldly to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus.

            -“God used this rich distinguished and secret disciple for a special and most important purpose.

             The outspoken male disciples of Jesus had fled, and if they had not, they had no influence with

             Pilate” (Dorris, pg 377).  “It is indeed remarkable that those who had openly declared their

             discipleship were afraid to claim the body of Jesus; whereas, Joseph, who appears to have

             been afraid to declare his discipleship, was not afraid to claim the body” (Woods, pg 416).

            -Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead.  Often times, crucifixion victims

             would suffer for days upon the cross prior to reaching the point of death.  Upon summoning

             the centurion and verifying this fact, Pilate granted Joseph’s request.  Joseph then removed

             our Lord’s body from the cruel cross.

-John’s account reveals that Nicodemus assisted Joseph in preparing Jesus’ body for burial. 

 Joseph used fine linen that he had purchased to wrap our Lord’s body and Nicodemus supplied a

 generous mixture of myrrh and aloes to be used in the process of preparing the body for burial. 

 Therefore, these two members of the Sanhedrin displayed honor for our Lord.

            -“The operation was a hurried one because the Sabbath drew near; and it was the intention of

             these disciples to complete their sad task and then perform the action more fully when the

             Sabbath had passed” (Woods, pg 417).  We can see this in the fact that early on the first day

             of the week, the women approached the tomb with “...sweet spices, that they might come and

             anoint him” (Mark 16:1).

-Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb of Joseph thus fulfilling yet another prophecy - Isa. 53:9. 

 Mark 15:47 points out that “...Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses” were also present

 at the tomb at this time and “beheld where he was laid.”

            -“Here our Lord was laid by sorrowing loved ones while his enemies exulted.  Neither group

             anticipated events soon to occur” (Woods, pg 418).

-It is emphasized that nobody else had ever been laid to rest in that particular tomb.  “This was so

 ordered, in the providence of God, doubtless, that there might be no suspicion about his identity

 when he rose; that it might not be alleged that another person had risen, or that he was raised by

 touching the bones of some prophet, as happened to the corpse that touched the bones of Elisha,

 2 Kings 13:21” (Barnes).

-A great stone was placed over the entrance to the tomb.  Joseph, and probably also Nicodemus,

 departed at this time.  It seems as if the women lingered at the tomb a little longer prior to leaving.

-“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came

 together unto Pilate” (Matt. 27:62).

            -Remember, Matthew utilized Jewish time references.  Therefore, the “next day” would have

             begun in the evening.  Therefore, it was probably Friday evening (Roman time) when some

             of the Jewish leaders approached Pilate.  “It is highly improbable that the Jews would leave the

             tomb of Jesus unguarded for one whole night” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 737).

-These Jewish leaders, considering Jesus a “deceiver,” remembered the words that He had spoken

 regarding the fact that He would rise again.  To prevent any of His disciples from stealing away His

 body and making such claims of a resurrection, the Jews requested that the tomb be guarded by

 Roman soldiers until the third day.

            -This, they thought, would prevent an even greater deception from occurring - the proclaiming

             of the resurrection of Jesus by His disciples.  Of course, they assumed that such proclamations

             would be false.

-Pilate granted their request and instructed them to “...make it as sure as ye can” (Matt. 27:65).

            -“They sealed the stone by drawing a string or tape across it and fastening the ends with wax

             or clay to the surface of the rock on either side.  If either seals were broken, that fact would

             show that the tomb was entered from without” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 738).

            -A Roman “seal” would have been imprinted into the wax or clay to indicate that the sealing

             of this tomb was done with Roman authority - a clear indication that it was not to be broken.

-“His very enemies, therefore, took every possible precaution to place his resurrection beyond the

 possibility of suspicion of fraud and imposture, and those precautions were the very means of

 furnishing the most striking proof that his death, burial, and resurrection were not impositions, but