Category:Burial of Jesus (subject)

The Burial of Jesus refers to a series of events in the Passion of Jesus, following his Crucifixion. Such events are narrated in the Gospels of Mark (15:42-47), Matthew (27:57-66), Luke (23:50-56), and John (19:38-42).

Overview

All gospels agree that it was Joseph of Arimathea who took the initiative of giving Jesus a proper burial, asking permission to Pilate. The body of Jesus was wrapped in linen clothes and put in a nearby tomb. The tomb in a garden was new.

According to the Synoptics the women from Galilee (Luke), specifically Mary Magdalene and Mary of Joses were present. The Gospel of John does not mention the women, but says that Joseph of Arimathea was assisted by Nicodemus.

The Gospels of Matthew and Peter are the only sources to say that the tomb of Jesus was guarded by Roman soldiers.

The Burial of Jesus in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 15:42-47 (NRSV) -- [42] When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 45 When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 27:57-66 (NRSV) -- [57] When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. [58] He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. [59] So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth [60] and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. [61] Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. [62] The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate [63] and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' [64] Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." [65] Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." [66] So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

Gospel of Luke

Luke 23:50-56 (NRSV) -- 50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Gospel of John

John 19:38-42 (NRSV) -- [38] After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The Burial of Jesus in Scholarship

The Burial of Jesus in Fiction

External links

• [ Wikipedia]