239. The Burial. Mt. 27:57–60; Mk. 15:42–46; Lk. 23:50–54; Jn. 19:38–42

Now when evening had come, since it was Friday, that is, the day before the Sabbath, a certain rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, a good and righteous man, a prominent member of the council who had not agreed with their purpose and deed against the Lord, and who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God and had been a disciple of the Lord Jesus, though a secret one for fear of the Jews, came to Pilate and boldly asked permission to take away the body of Jesus.

Pilate was surprised that he was already dead; and calling the centurion, he asked him: Has it been long since he died? And learning from the centurion, he ordered the body to be given to Joseph.

Joseph went and bought a linen shroud and took down the body of Jesus.

Nicodemus also came, who had come to the Lord Jesus by night before, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

Then they took the body of the Lord Jesus and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud with the spices, as was the custom of the Jews in burial.

In the place where the Lord Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, hewn out by Joseph from the rock, in which no one had yet been laid. There they laid the Lord Jesus, because of the Friday of the Jews, for the tomb was near; and, rolling a stone against the door of the tomb, they went away.

That day was Friday, and the Sabbath was beginning.