Luke 23:53

We seek to know exactly where he was buried. Was his tomb made with hands? Does it rise above the ground, like the tombs of kings? Was the sepulcher made of stones joined together? What is laid upon it? O prophets, tell us exactly about his tomb. Where is it? Where should we look for it? They answer, "Look at the solid rock that you have hewn." Look and see. You have in the Gospels, "In a rock-hewn tomb." What is next? What kind of door does the sepulcher have? Again, the prophet says, "They have ended my life in the pit, and they have laid a stone over me." I am "the chief cornerstone, chosen, precious." He that is "a stone of stumbling" to the Jews but of salvation to those that believe was for a while within a stone. The tree of life was planted in the earth, to bring blessing for the earth that was cursed and to bring release for the dead.

(in Vit. Ant. 90.) They also act absurdly who embalm the bodies of their dead, and do not bury them, even supposing them to be holy. For what can be more holy or greater than our Lord's body? And yet this was placed in a tomb until it rose again the third day. For it follows, And he laid it in a hewn sepulchre.

Someone might say of last Sunday's sermon, in which we preached that there was no less glory in Joseph's grave receiving the Lord than in holy Mary's womb begetting him, "What comparison can there be between the womb and the grave, since the one brought …

Let us see, then, what happens to the Lord's body after they take it down from the cross. Joseph of Arimathea, a righteous man, as the Evangelist says, took it and buried it in his new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. …

Joseph had not revealed himself before, but now he does a praiseworthy deed. Despite being a member of the council and a wealthy man, he boldly asks for the body of a Man who was crucified as a rebel and insurrectionist, and pays no attention …

Secondly, as to the honor of the burial, he adds: And having taken him down, he wrapped him in a clean linen cloth: for this was most fitting for the most pure flesh of Christ. Whence it was instituted in the Church that corporals should …

And he wrapped it up in a shroud and placed him in a hewn tomb, in which no one had yet been laid. And from the simple burial of the Lord, the ambition of the rich is condemned, who cannot be without wealth even in …

Hence it follows, And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen. By the simple burial of our Lord, the pride of the rich is condemned, who not even in their graves can be without their wealth.

That is, hewn out of a rock, lest if it had been built of many stones, and the foundations of the tomb being dug up after the resurrection, the body should be said to have been stolen away. It is laid also in a new tomb, wherein never man before was laid, lest when the rest of the bodies remained after the resurrection, it might be suspected that some other had risen again.

He also wraps Jesus in clean linen, who has received Him with a pure mind.

And he took it down,.... From the cross, with the help of others, having obtained leave of Pilate so to do; and wrapped it in linen; as was the custom of the Jews in burying their dead; See Gill on Mat 27:59. and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone; cut out of a rock; See Gill on Mat 27:60. wherein never man before was laid; so that it could not be said it was another body, and not that of Christ's, that was raised from the dead.

Christ Accused and Insulted. 1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:87%@v1-3

We know nothing of Joseph except what is here told us. In no part of the Acts or Epistles, do we find any mention of his name. At no former period of our Lord's ministry, does he ever come forward. We cannot explain his reason for not openly joining the disciples before this time. But here, at the eleventh hour, this man is not afraid to show himself to be one of our Lord's friends. At the very time when the apostles had forsaken Jesus — Joseph is not ashamed to show his love and respect.

We know nothing of Joseph except what is here told us. In no part of the Acts or Epistles, do we find any mention of his name. At no former period of our Lord's ministry, does he ever come forward. We cannot explain his reason for not openly joining the disciples before this time. But here, at the eleventh hour, this man is not afraid to show himself to be one of our Lord's friends. At the very time when the apostles had forsaken Jesus — Joseph is not ashamed to show his love and respect. Others had confessed Him while He was living and doing miracles. It was reserved for Joseph — to confess Him when He was dead. The history of Joseph is full of instruction and encouragement. It shows us that Christ has friends of whom the Church knows little or nothing — unknown friends who in real love and affection, are second to none. It shows us, above all, that events may bring out grace in quarters where at present we do not expect it; and that the cause of Christ may prove one day to have many supporters, of whose existence we are at present not aware. These are they whom David calls "hidden ones" — and Solomon compares to a "lily among thorns." (Psalm 83:3; Canticles 2:2.) Let us learn from the case of Joseph of Arimathea, to be charitable and hopeful in our judgments. All is not barren in this world — when our eyes perhaps see nothing. There may be some latent sparks of light — when all appears dark. Little plants of spiritual life — may be existing in some remote congregations, which the Father Himself has planted. Grains of true faith may be lying hidden in some neglected English parish, which have been placed there by God. There were seven thousand true worshipers in Israel — of whom Elijah knew nothing. The day of judgment will bring forward men who seemed last — and place them among the first! (1 Kings 19:18.)