The Tomb of Joseph
57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
A wealthy man who had kept quiet asks for the body, and two women sit and watch where it is put.
When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.
The burial is told in the earlier account Mark 15:21–47, which adds that he was a council member and that he went in boldly. He had not spoken up at the trial, and he speaks up now, when there is nothing to gain and a body to claim.
Asking Pilate for the corpse of a man executed for treason was not a small request. Crucified bodies were commonly left, and a man who took one was publicly attaching himself to it.
59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
The details are the ones that matter later. A rock tomb, newly cut, his own — so no other body was in it, and it belonged to a man of standing whose location was known to everybody.
Matthew, who has read the prophets over every scene in this book, does not quote here, and the fact is worth noticing on its own: the servant was with a rich man in his death Isaiah 53:9, and a wealthy councilor's family tomb is exactly that.
and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
The chapter ends with two women sitting and looking at a stone. They stay to the end of a day everyone else has left, and the account records where they were sitting because it will matter on Sunday that they knew which tomb it was.
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