Life of Jesus His Burial

Matthew 27:57-66
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. (57-61) The town of Arimathea was only twenty miles from Jerusalem, and Joseph was well known Only prominent individuals would have been able to approach Pilate with a special request Normally the victims of crucifixion were thrown into common graves, and one executed for a charge of insurrection and treason against Rome would not have received a dignified burial Pilate granted Josephs request for the body, and it was prepared for burial and entombed Not only did Joseph honor Jesus by obtaining the body and preparing it for burial, but the provision of his family tomb was a special act of affection and reverence (I Kings 13:30) Most significantly Joseph of Arimethea was not ashamed of being known as Christs disciple Joseph, along with the two thieves, fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9: He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence The two women at the tomb were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who was the mother of James and Joseph (27:56) and the wife of Cleopas (John 19:25, Luke 24:18) These two women would be the first ones to witness the resurrection of Jesus (28:1-10) The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. Sir, they said, we remember that while He was still alive that deceiver said, After three days I will rise again. So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that He has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first. Take a guard, Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how. So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (62-66) Even with the darkness, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple veil the chief priests and Pharisees were relentless in their determination to dishonor Jesus and maintain power Pilate was concerned about order, so he takes the advice of the Pharisees to avert an uprising His guard provided military might, and the seal on the tomb conveyed the authority of Rome Little did Pilate know along with his guards, the chief priests and the Pharisees that neither the huge stone nor the Roman seal could contain the resurrected Christ Soon another earthquake would roll away the stone breaking the seal (28:2), but truly what was to be broken was sins power over us and sins result of death only then could it be said: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting (I Corinthians 15:55)