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DEATH AND BURIAL OF CHRIST

John chapter 19:28 to 42

Twenty-eight prophecies were fulfilled while the Lord was hanging on the cross (clear prophecies as to the death of the Messiah are to be found in Genesis 3:15, Psalms 22:1,13,16,18, 34:20, 69:21,26, 109:25, Isaiah 52:14, 53:7-12, Daniel 9:26, Zechariah 12:9,10, 13:6,7). The Lord, of course, knew them all, and that they had all been accomplished.

He said "I thirst" - no doubt He was indeed thirsty (Psalm 22:15) - and they gave Him vinegar (sour wine) to drink (Psalm 69:21). This was not the vinegar drugged with myrrh (Mark 15:23) and gall (Matthew 27:34) which He had refused just before the crucifixion. His work on the cross, the payment of the price of redemption which had been required of Him (chapter 17:4), had been fully accomplished. He therefore exclaimed His cry of victory, "It is finished!"

He then cried out again with a loud voice, saying "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit"( Luke 23:46 - a quotation of Psalm 31:5), and bowing His head He gave up His spirit. He had authority over His human body and could decide when to leave it. Nobody could take His physical life away, but He willingly gave it.

At the death of Christ several very remarkable things took place (Matthew 27:51-54):

1. the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom: it was rent by God, not by man. The way into the presence of God, the Holy of Holies in the temple, was opened. Everyone who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ can go straight into the presence of God: the only way to the Father is through His Son. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

2. an earthquake, causing the rocks to split.

3. the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

We have no further details. We can only surmise that those who arose were probably recently dead so that they would be recognised when they appeared to many. These would be witnesses of the fact when the Gospel was written. Like Lazarus, they died again.

The other three Gospels tell how the centurion in charge of the crucifixion and his soldiers were impressed by the Lord's last words and the way in which he voluntarily died. This, and the other events such as the darkness and the earthquake, brought great fear to these hardened soldiers and they declared "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" The centurion glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" Apparently what he heard and saw convinced him that this was the righteous Son of God. He probably was saved, although not knowing a great deal of theology, but enough to take his place beneath the Cross of Christ.

The effect on the whole crowd which had come to watch this great event was no less dramatic: they beat their breasts and returned (Luke 23:48). There must have been an ominous and fearful atmosphere surrounding the death of Christ. Remorse at the shedding of innocent blood, and the realisation to many of them that this was no ordinary person but the Messiah himself, must have made them fear for their souls. Shortly after, the preaching of the good news of pardon and salvation through faith will have brought many to Christ.

The Law of Moses required that the body of a man hung on a tree as an execution for sin (death by hanging) should be taken down and buried on the same day, for he who is hanged is accursed of God and the land would be defiled if this was not done (Deuteronomy 21:23).

The Passover Sabbath, a high day, was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and on this day, as well as on the seventh of the feast, no manner of work was permitted (Exodus 12:16). The hypocrite Jews therefore wanted the men on the cross to be dead and buried before the beginning of this Sabbath, and asked Pilate to break their legs - a manner of killing them by shock. Pilate obliged, but the legs of Jesus were left intact because He was already dead. Instead, the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, just to make sure. Unwittingly, they fulfilled two more prophecies about the Messiah: that none of His bones would be broken (Psalm 34:20): like the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:46), and that He would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10).

From the other gospels, we learn that Joseph was a rich and prominent council member (but he was a good and just man and had not consented to their decision and deed). A secret disciple of Jesus out of fear of the Jews, he now took courage, went in to Pilate, and asked that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised that He was already dead but, on confirmation by the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Joseph bought fine linen, went and took the body down, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

Nicodemus, who at first had come to Jesus by night, joined Joseph bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes (about a hundred pounds in weight). This perfume is the same as that of the Messiah at His marriage (Psalm 45:8). These spices were then placed between the layers of linen which they used to bind the body of Jesus.

The body was placed in Joseph's new tomb where no one had ever lain before, which he had hewn out of the rock (Isaiah 53:9). It was conveniently placed in a small garden close to the site of the crucifixion, outside of the walls of Jerusalem, which saved time. Joseph rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

Merging the narrative in the four gospels we obtain the following:

• Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Joses were there, sitting opposite the tomb, and observed where He was laid (Luke 23:55).

• On the next day, the (Passover) Sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees sealed the stone on the tomb and set a guard after getting Pilate's permission. They remembered the Lord said He would rise after three days and were afraid the disciples might steal the body (Matthew 12:40, 27:62-66).

• When the (Passover) Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, and prepared spices and fragrant oils that they might come and anoint Him. They then rested on the (weekly) Sabbath according to the commandment (Mark 16:1, Luke 24:56). They had wasted their money and time, for when they went to the tomb on the day after the weekly Sabbath they found it empty. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, had done better, a week earlier (chapter 12:3-7).

This can only mean that the Crucifixion was on a Wednesday, the Passover Sabbath was on Thursday, the spices were bought and prepared on Friday, to be used on Sunday.

Four people, at least, were changed in the process of Jesus' death. The criminal at His side, asked to be included in His kingdom (Luke 23:39-43). The Roman centurion proclaimed that He surely was the righteous Son of God (Mark 15:39). Joseph and Nicodemus, members of the Jewish council and secret disciples (John 7:50-52), came out of hiding. They were changed more by His death than by His life. They realised who Jesus was, and that realisation brought out their belief, proclamation, and action.

 

R David Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"

29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken."

7 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.