57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. (Matthew 27:57-61 KJV)
Jesus Is Buried
We have here an account of Christ’s burial and its circumstances. His friends gave him a decent burial, and his enemies were determined to keep him there.
Jesus Christ was buried; when his soul went to paradise, his body was laid in the grave to fulfill the type of Jonah and the prophecy of Isaiah—“he made his grave with the wicked” (Isa 53:9). In this, he was made like his brothers in every way except sin, returning to dust as we do. His burial confirmed his death and magnified his resurrection. Pilate wouldn’t release the body until he was sure Christ was dead. But Christ, the great Witness, was counted among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave (Re 11:8). His burial removed the fear of the grave for us—he warmed and perfumed it, so we might be buried with him in hope.
He was buried the same evening he died, before sunset, which was customary for malefactors. It wasn’t delayed until the next day, since burial wasn’t appropriate for the Sabbath, a day of rest and rejoicing.
The person who oversaw the burial was Joseph of Arimathea. The apostles had fled, and the women who followed Jesus were too afraid to act, so God raised up this good man. Joseph was wealthy—a necessary trait for the service at hand—and he was also a disciple of Jesus, though secretly (Mt 27:57; Ro 11:4). Christ has more hidden followers than we often realize.
Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body (Mt 27:58), showing proper respect for the authority that governed the matter. Pilate agreed, perhaps seeking to ease his guilty conscience for condemning an innocent man. In this request and its approval, Christ was honored.
Joseph took the body himself (Acts 13:29) and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, which was the common practice. His love for Christ made him think no task too lowly. This care for the body of a righteous man reflected belief in the resurrection and served as an act of faith.
He laid Jesus in his own new tomb (Mt 27:60). There was no grand procession or worldly honor. A private funeral suited the humility of Christ’s kingdom. The tomb was borrowed—like his lack of a home in life, he had no grave of his own. As he died bearing sin not his own, it was fitting that he be buried in a borrowed tomb, not his rightful place (Isa 53:9; Job 24:19; Ps 146:4).
The tomb was newly carved out of rock, as was common around Jerusalem (Isa 22:16). This prevented any suspicion of tampering or secret access. The only entrance was the door, which would be watched.
A large stone was rolled in front of the tomb’s entrance (John 11:38), symbolizing the finality of death and separation from the living. It was equivalent to filling the grave in our tradition and completed the burial. After laying Jesus’ body in the grave, his friends left in silence and sorrow. This moment—leaving our loved ones in the grave—is always the most painful, but truly, they go home while we remain behind.
Few people attended the burial. No family in mourning, no ceremony—only a few faithful women: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Mt 27:56). As they had followed Jesus to the cross, so they followed him to the grave. They sat facing the tomb, not just watching, but weeping. True love for Christ continues to the end. Even death cannot extinguish such devotion (Song 8:6-7).
Why was our Lord buried, given that he would rise soon and his body could never decay, being sinless? Sin causes bodily decay. But:
- He was buried to confirm his death and prove his resurrection. The embalming process—filling his mouth, ears, and nostrils with spices—left no room for doubt. This made it clear he was truly dead.
- He was buried to fulfill prophecy. Jonah’s three days in the fish (Matthew 12:40) was a type of Christ’s three days in the earth. Isaiah said, He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death (Isaiah 53:9), referring to Joseph’s tomb—and Scripture cannot be broken.
- He was buried to complete his humiliation. David, a type of Christ, said, They have brought me to the dust of death (Psalm 22:15). This was the lowest point he could reach—he could not have been laid any lower.
- He entered the grave to conquer death in its own domain. His victory over the grave causes us to rejoice: O grave, where is your destruction? (Hosea 13:14). Christ has perfumed the grave by lying in it. The believer’s grave is now more restful than a soft bed.