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ANOINTED AND ENTOMBED
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
Mark 15:42-47

Matthew 27:57-61

 

“…and laid him in a sepulchre

which was hewn out of a rock…”

 

ANOINTED AND ENTOMBED
 
Since the Sabbath was about to begin (at sunset, 6 pm), the Jews wanted to bury the bodies as quickly as possible. To leave the bodies exposed on the Sabbath would desecrate the holy city. The bodies could be taken down only if they were dead. To hasten death, the soldiers would break the legs of those crucified. They broke the legs of the two thieves. When they came to Jesus, they saw that He was already dead, and so did not break His legs. However, to ensure that He was indeed dead, a spear was thrust into His side, and blood and water flowed out. This indicated that blood circulation had stopped. His heart had already stopped beating for some time. This fulfils Psalm 34:20, “A bone of him shall not be broken,” and Zechariah 12:10, “They shall look on him whom they pierced.” That Jesus’ bones were not broken fulfils the requirement of the Passover sacrifice (Exod 12:46; Num 9:12). Indeed, Jesus kept the ceremonial law to the jot and tittle (cf. Matt 5:17,18). Not only in His life, but also in His death, Jesus kept the Law of God!
 
There were at least two believers (albeit secret ones until now) in the Sanhedrin—Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus of John 3. At no small risk to themselves, they claimed the body of Jesus. Joseph with great effort secured Pilate’s permission to take away the Lord’s body. Nicodemus prepared the aromatic spices weighing a hundred pounds. They applied the spices onto the body and wrapped it in linen cloths. Jesus was laid in Joseph’s very own, and brand new, tomb hewn out of solid rock. No one was yet laid therein.
 
So Jesus died at 3 pm, and by 6 pm, in less than 3 hours, He was buried. He was buried on a Friday, remained in the tomb on Saturday, and on Sunday, He rose from the dead.
 
THOUGHT: The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:1-4).

PRAYER: (Pray for some lost soul to be saved today.)

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