Fact Sheet for “Jesus’Burial” John 19:31-42 Pastor Bob Singer 04/052020

The Jewish leaders of Christ’s day did everything they could to rid themselves of Jesus. They mocked him publicly. They stirred up the crowds against him. They crucified him. They tried to keep him in the tomb. But everything that they did actually turned out to fulfill Scripture and make Jesus’ resurrection one of the best attested facts in history! Take a look with me this morning at the burial of Christ. And ask yourself, “Is there any logical explanation of the empty tomb other than the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead?”

ESV 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

The day before the onset of the Sabbath was called the Preparation Day (see Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54).

The feast of Passover, the seven days of Unleavened Bread, and the feast of First Fruits were so closely connected that this whole week was referred to as the Passover. This particular Sabbath was a high day because it was the one that occurred during Passover week.

32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.

Breaking their legs would make it impossible for anyone hanging on a cross to lift themselves up so that they could take a breath. They would immediately die of asphyxiation.

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

The soldiers immediately recognized this to mean that Jesus was already dead.

35 He who saw it has borne witness-- his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth-- that you also may believe.

John is referring to himself here.

36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken."1 37 And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."2

38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.

Though the Sanhedrin voted to condemn Christ, not everyone on the council was in agreement. Consider Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50-51).

Pilate’s response is found in Mark 15:44-45.

1 Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:19-20. 2 Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin also (John 3:1; 7:50-52).

40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.3

42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Luke adds this…

ESV Luke 23:55-56 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

But the Jewish leaders were not yet finished (read Matthew 27:63-65). The words translated “You have a guard” are grammatically ambiguous. They could be translated as a command… “Take a guard”… meaning a Roman guard. Or they could be translated as a statement… “You have a guard”… meaning their own temple guard. The evidence is finely balanced between the two views. I suspect that this was the Jewish temple guard. The guard did report to the Chief Priests first, but ultimately they were answerable to Pilate. After Jesus rose again from the dead this is what took place with that guard (Matthew 28:11-15). Either way the tomb was made secure (Matthew 27:66).

Consider Jesus in the tomb. He was dead. The Romans knew this immediately. This is why they did not break his legs. They pierced his side with a spear. This alone may have been a fatal wound for someone who was living. Joseph and Nicodemus handled his body as they were preparing it for burial. They certainly would have noticed if he was alive. Jesus’ body was wrapped in about 75+ lbs. of linen and spices. His body was placed in a rock tomb, with a heavy stone rolled against the door. The Jewish leaders, who absolutely wanted to quash any idea that Jesus would rise again, posted a guard at the tomb.

What explanation of these things can be made to say that the Scripture is not true?

1. Jesus was not really dead. He escaped! He revived in the cool tomb, rolled the stone away, fought off the guards, then appeared to the disciples.

2. The disciples stole his body. They fought off the guards, stole Jesus’ body, ssaid he had risen, and were willing to die a martyr’s death for their lie.

3. The New Testament’s record of Jesus’ resurrection is a fabrication. But using the same standards to establish any historical fact, the resurrection of Christ is by far one of the best attested facts in history.

Far from quashing the claims of Christ to rise on the third day, The Jewish religious leaders succeeded in making it one of the best attested facts in history. They succeeded in proving just the opposite of what they wanted.

The record of the Bible is clear. We are all sinners. Jesus Christ’ death and resurrection provided for the forgiveness of our sin… if we choose to believe in him. All it takes is a conversation between you and God (prayer), but it must come from the heart. It’s not just a matter of saying the right words. Where do you stand today? For those of us who are Christians, thinking through Jesus’ burial provides absolute affirmation of our relationship with God. Do you have that confidence? It’s only a prayer away.

3 Read Matthew 27:59-60.