The burial of Jesus

THE BURIAL OF JESUS

There was a man called Joseph of Arimathea who was a respected member of the Jewish Council and very upright. He was waiting for the kingdom of God. In the evening after Jesus was crucified, this Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to request the body of Jesus in order to bury him.

Pilate commanded that the body be given to him. After taking the body of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea wrapped it in a clean shroud. He laid the body in the new tomb he had hewn in the rock. He rolled a big stone to seal the mouth of the tomb.

While Joseph of Arimathea was doing all these, there were many women looking on from afar. Those looking on afar were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph and also the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JOSEPH’S ACTION

1. This account proved that Joseph of Arimathea was a true friend of Jesus.

2. It was not going to be proper if Jesus’ body was left on the cross till the Sabbath day as though he was a common criminal.

3. Joseph of Arimathea could not allow Jesus to be buried in a place meant for criminals.

4. Burying Jesus in a new grave was a mark of the faith Joseph of Arimathea had in him.

5. By burying Jesus in a tomb, Joseph of Arimathea was making up for all the friendship that he did not get from the people.

SAMPLE QUESTION(S)

1. a. Describe the roles of Joseph of Arimathea and the women in the burial of Jesus.

   b. In what three ways was Joseph’s action significant?   

2. a. How did Jesus end up in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea?

    b. In which three different ways are the dead buried in your country today?

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