The Gospel of John: John 19.1-42

Read and meditate on John 19.38-42.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus prepare Jesus for burial, and lay Him in a garden tomb.

                                     ³⁸Now after this, a man
named Joseph, a disciple, and a friend
of Jesus, came to Pilate secretly,
because he feared the Jews, to see if he
might take down Jesus’ body. Pilate gave
him leave to do so, so then Joseph came
and took His body. ³⁹Nicodemus, who
to Jesus came by night, was with him, too.
They brought a hundred pounds of spices to
embalm Him. ⁴⁰Now the custom of the Jews
for burial was to bind the body in
the spices, using linen strips, so then
they did. ⁴¹A garden was nearby, and in
the garden was a tomb, and no one in
that tomb had yet been laid. ⁴²So there they laid
Him; it was then the Preparation Day.

- John 19.38-42

Reflect
1.  As Mark noted (Mk. 15.43), Joseph’s coming to Pilate was a courageous act. Why? How does one muster such courage? Complete this prayer: I need courage to follow You, Lord, so I pray that…

2.  What are some ways you might expect your courage as a disciple to be tested? How can you prepare for these? Lord, do not let the fear of men get the best of me. Help me each day to…

3.  Jewish burial involved a ritual that cocooned the body in a firm wrapping of linen. We recall that when Lazarus was raised, others had to loose him so that he could be free of his wrapping. Why did John think it was important for us to know this? Now power of the grave or grave clothes could hold You Lord, because…

4. John also wants us to be sure and know that Jesus was laid to rest in a garden tomb. Matthew adds the detail that Roman soldiers were stationed to guard the tomb (Matt. 27.62-66). Why do we need to know these details? That is, why did John make a point of telling us that Jesus was given a traditional Jewish burial and laid in a standard Jewish tomb? There can be no doubt that You truly died, Lord Jesus, just as there can be no doubt that…
 
5.  John reminds us again that all this took place on “the Jews’ Preparation Day” (cf. vv. 14, 31). What happened on Preparation Day at this particular feast (cf. Ex. 12.1-8)? As it turned out, for what was this day “Preparation”? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“It is providentially ordered that he should be placed in a new tomb where no one had been placed before, so that his resurrection might not be deemed to be that of someone else who was lying there with him. And, because the place was near, the disciples would easily be able to come and be spectators of what happened. And not they alone, but also his enemies, should be witnesses of his burial. For when they placed seals on the tomb and stationed soldiers to watch it, these were the actions of people testifying to the burial. For Christ earnestly desired that this burial should be confessed no less than the resurrection. This is also why the disciples are very earnest about showing that he died. For all succeeding ages would confirm the resurrection. But Jesus’ death, if at that time it had been partially concealed or not made entirely evident, would be likely to harm the account of the resurrection. Nor was it for these reasons only that he was laid nearby, but also that the story about the stealing might be proved false.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

The death of Jesus, including His burial, is an important part of the Good News. Why?

Closing Prayer
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 149.4-9

Psalm 149 (Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art )
Sing to the Lord a glorious song and new!
Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him
Who has created us and cleansed our sin.

Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre!
To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
Lord, beautify Your holy ones with grace;
Show us the mercy of Your saving face.

Sing to the Lord, exult with great delight!
Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand;
Publish His grace and wrath in every land!
T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.