50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. (Luke 23:50-56 KJV)
Jesus Is Buried
We have here an account of Christ’s burial; for he had to be brought not only to death but also to the dust of death (Psalm 22:15), according to the sentence in Genesis 3:19, “To the dust you shall return.”
Joseph of Arimathea was the one who buried him (Luke 23:50). His character is described as a good and just man, known for his virtue and piety. He was generous to those in need, and caring for the dead, especially with a hope in the resurrection, is one way of showing such goodness. He was a man of influence—a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council. Although the Sanhedrin had condemned Christ, Joseph had not agreed with their decision (Luke 23:51). Though the majority prevailed, he protested against their actions and did not follow the crowd in doing evil. Evil plans or deeds that we do not agree to will not be counted as ours.
Joseph not only dissented from Christ’s enemies but aligned himself with his followers: he was waiting for the kingdom of God. He believed in the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and expected their fulfillment. This man showed sincere respect for Jesus. Many who quietly support Christ, though not outwardly expressive, may be more ready to serve him when the opportunity arises than others who make a public show of their faith.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Since the body was under Pilate’s jurisdiction, Joseph followed the legal process and did not resort to force, though he likely could have gathered support to do so. He took the body down and wrapped it in linen. According to Jewish custom, bodies were wrapped like infants in swaddling clothes. The linen was likely cut into strips for this purpose. It is said of Lazarus that he was bound hand and foot (John 11:44). Grave clothes are to the saints what swaddling clothes are to infants—they will outgrow and discard them when they are raised in glory.
Jesus was buried in a tomb cut from rock—a solid, enclosed space like a prison. The tomb had never been used before, which was fitting because no one had ever been buried for the purpose that he was: to rise again on the third day by his own power. He would conquer the grave in a way no one ever had.
His burial took place on the day of preparation, just before the Sabbath (Luke 23:54). This explains the urgency—they had to complete the burial before sunset, when the Sabbath would begin. Though they mourned Christ’s death, they still had to observe the Sabbath. Sorrow must not prevent obedience. When the Sabbath draws near, we must prepare. Our earthly responsibilities should be arranged so they do not interfere with our spiritual ones, and our hearts should be stirred to worship.
The funeral was attended not by the disciples, but by the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee (Luke 23:55). They had remained with him at the cross and now followed to see where and how he was buried. Their presence was driven not by curiosity but by love—strong and unquenchable, even in death. It was a quiet and humble burial, yet Christ’s rest was glorious.
Afterward, the women returned and prepared spices and ointments for embalming (Luke 23:56). This was a sign of their deep love for Jesus, though it also showed their lack of understanding or remembrance of his promise to rise again on the third day. If they had truly believed that, they would have saved themselves the effort, knowing that his resurrection would soon glorify his body more than any spices could. Still, although they busied themselves with this preparation, they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to God’s commandment. Even though the day has since changed, the command to keep the Sabbath holy remains in effect: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”