Bible Study for Today

What happened to Jesus after His death?

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the “council” (or the Sanhedrin), who had opposed Jesus’ condemnation (Luke 23:51), took courage and came forward (Mark 15:43). Pilate would not likely have been pleased to see a member of the Sanhedrin, after that group had forced him to crucify an innocent man. Further, Joseph’s public identification with Jesus would enrage the other members of the Sanhedrin. Nevertheless, he “asked for the body of Jesus.”
“Pilate marveled” that Jesus was already dead (v. 44). Victims of crucifixion often lingered for days, hence Pilate’s surprise that Jesus was dead after only 6 hours. Before granting Jesus’ body to Joseph, Pilate checked with the “centurion” in charge of the crucifixion to verify that Jesus was really dead. Having received confirmation from the centurion that Jesus was dead, Pilate granted Jesus’ body to Joseph (v. 45). By that act, the Romans officially pronounced Jesus dead.
Then Jesus’ body was wrapped in the linen (v. 46). The Jews did not embalm corpses, but wrapped them in perfumed burial cloths. Nicodemus, another prominent member of the Sanhedrin (see John 7:50), assisted Joseph in caring for the body of Jesus (John 19:39, 40). These men, who had kept their allegiance to Jesus secret during His lifetime, then came forward publicly to bury Him, while the disciples, who had openly followed Jesus, hid (John 20:19). Then they laid Jesus in a “tomb…hewn out of the rock.” This “tomb” was located near Golgotha (John 19:42). Matthew adds that it was Joseph’s own tomb (Matt. 27:60), while Luke and John note that no one as yet had been buried in it (Luke 23:53; John 19:41).

Reading for Today:

Numbers 35:1–36:13

Psalm 35:17-28

Proverbs 12:3

Mark 15:25-47

Notes:
Numbers 35:12 the avenger. The meaning of this term is “near of kin.” It refers to the person chosen by a family to deal with a loss suffered in that family. Here the close relative of a homicide victim would seek to avenge his death, but not until proper judgment was made.
Numbers 35:33 blood defiles the land. Though murder and inadvertent killing polluted the land, murder was atoned for by the death of the murderer. Failure to observe these principles would make the land unclean. If the whole land became unclean, then the Lord would no longer be able to dwell in their midst.
Psalm 35:21, 22 Our eyes have seen it. This you have seen, O LORD. What David’s enemy allegedly saw, the Lord has seen perfectly. David knew that his God would vindicate him based upon the true evidence, all in his favor.
Mark 15:26 inscription of His accusation. The crime for which a condemned man was executed was written on a wooden board, which was fastened to the cross above his head. Jesus’ inscription was written in Latin, Hebrew, and Greek (John 19:20). THE KING OF THE JEWS. Since Pilate had repeatedly declared Jesus to be innocent of any crime (Luke 23:4, 14, 15, 22), he ordered this inscription written for Him. While Pilate’s intent was probably neither to mock nor honor Jesus, he certainly intended it as an affront to the Jewish authorities, who had given him so much trouble. When the outraged Jewish leaders demanded the wording be changed, Pilate bluntly refused (John 19:22). A comparison of all 4 Gospel accounts reveals that the full inscription read: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH,THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark 15:38 the veil of the temple was torn in two. The massive curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary (Ex. 26:31–33; 40:20, 21; Lev. 16:2; Heb. 9:3). Its rending signified that the way into God’s presence was open by the death of His Son.