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Matthew 27:57-66 (Burial; Good Friday)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Lead Me to the Cross and over the past months we have been following Jesus’ final steps to the cross as recorded for us in the gospel of Matthew. We now come to the closing verses of chapter 27. Matthew has told us about the sufferings of Jesus. He has told us about the death of Jesus. Now he goes on to tell us about the burial of Jesus. We know it’s important that Jesus died. We know it’s important that Jesus resurrected. But why is it so important that Jesus was buried? That’s what we want to look at tonight. (Read Matthew 27:57-61 and pray.)

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Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and then he goes on to talk about Christ’s appearances as well.

We spend a lot of time talking about Christ’s death and we spend a lot of time talking about Christ’s resurrection, but sometimes we skip right over his burial. And yet Paul called it one of the matters of first importance.

So, that’s what we want to talk about tonight. Why is it so important that Jesus was buried, and even more specifically, why was Jesus buried in a rich man’s tomb?

I. To fulfill prophecy (57-58)
      – Isaiah 53:9

We will look at four reasons tonight, and the first one is this: Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb in order to fulfill prophecy. Look at verses 57-58:

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. (Matthew 27:57-58)

This is the first and only time we meet Joseph in the Scriptures. He appears briefly at the end of each of the gospel accounts in relation to Jesus’ burial, and then we never hear about him again. We know from the other gospels that he was a member of the Council that voted to put Jesus to death (Mark 15:43), that he was a good and upright man who did not agree with the Council’s decision (Luke 23:50-51), and that he was a follower of Jesus, but secretly, because he feared the Jews (John 19:38).

But the main point Matthew emphasizes for us about Joseph is that he was wealthy. And why is it important that he was wealthy? In order to fulfill prophecy. Throughout Matthew’s gospel we have seen how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy again and again. He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy at his birth, he fulfilled Old Testament prophecy throughout his life, he fulfilled Old Testament prophecy at his death, and now he even fulfills Old Testament prophecy at his burial.

Isaiah 53 is the great prophetic chapter in the Old Testament that tells us about Christ’s suffering and death on the cross. What a lot of people don’t know is that it also tells us about Christ’s burial (Isaiah 53:9) and resurrection (Isaiah 53:11). And what does it say about his burial? We read in Isaiah 53:9: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9)

That first part about being assigned a grave with the wicked is a reference to Jesus being crucified between the two thieves. But that second part has to do with Joseph. Jesus wasn’t a wealthy man. He owned nothing but the clothes on his back and they even took those. So how was he going to be assigned a grave with the rich in his death?

Enter Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who had secretly become a disciple of Jesus who now boldly approaches Pilate and asks for Jesus’ body. And Pilate gives it to him! This all happened in accordance with God’s sovereign plan and in order to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9.

So that’s the first reason Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb. Every prophecy of Jesus must be fulfilled. Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb first of all to fulfill prophecy.

II. To show that he really died (59-61)
      – Mark 15:44-45; John 19:39-40

Secondly, Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb to show that he really died. Back to Matthew 27, look at verses 59-61 with me now:

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 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. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27:59-61)

The gospel of Mark tells us that Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus had already died, and so he confirmed with the centurion to make sure that Jesus was really dead before granting Joseph permission (Mark 15:44-45). After seeking and receiving permission from Pilate, Joseph takes Jesus’ body and carefully prepares him for burial. The gospel of John tells us that he was accompanied and assisted by Nicodemus. Nicodemus is the Pharisee who earlier had visited Jesus by night (John 19:39). So here we have a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin taking Jesus’ body and preparing it for burial.

First, they wrap the body in clean linen. The gospel of John tells us that: “Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.” (John 19:39-40)

After wrapping Jesus’ body in the linen, Joseph places Jesus’ body in his own new tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolls a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and goes away. And that’s the last we ever hear about Joseph of Arimathea. Frederick Bruner comments: “There is something dramatic about Joseph’s sudden appearance … and … disappearance. It is as though Joseph’s whole life was a preparation for this one historical deed.” (Frederick Dale Bruner; Matthew, Vol. II, p. 1069) Matthew also tells us that the two Mary’s, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Mary the mother of James) were sitting there opposite the tomb, closely observing where Jesus was buried.

Once again, why are all these details so important? In order to show that Jesus really died. Imagine if Jesus had resurrected from the cross instead of the tomb. Imagine if immediately after he had given up his spirit, right after God had worked all the miraculous signs in connection with his death and the centurion had proclaimed that surely this was the Son of God – imagine if Jesus had resurrected from the dead then. There would be a lot of people who would question whether he had actually died at all.

No, Jesus’ body was examined by Roman soldiers trained to recognize death, he was pierced through with a sword, he was taken down from the cross, he was wrapped in seventy-five pounds of linen, he was placed in Joseph’s own tomb and a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance. Jesus lay dead and buried in that tomb for the rest of Friday, all day Saturday and the first part of Sunday before he rose from the dead. Why? To show that he had really died.

You see, in order for Jesus to take our death, he needed to die the same death that we experience when we die. When we die, what happens? Our spirits are separated from our bodies for a period of time. Our bodies lie in the grave awaiting resurrection. When Jesus returns, our bodies will be raised from the grave and reunited with our spirits.

If Jesus had died and then immediately resurrected, he would not have experienced the full passage of death that we experience. He would not truly have conquered sin and death and the grave. Herman Ridderbos writes: “Thus Jesus endured not only pain and suffering and the curse of death but even the terror of the grave, so that He could save His people from this forever.” (Herman N. Ridderbos, Matthew, p. 541) And so that is a second reason Jesus was buried – to show that he really died.

III. To show that he really resurrected (62-66)
      – Matthew 12:40

Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb: 1) to fulfill prophecy; 2) to show that he really died; and 3) to show that he really resurrected. Look at verses 62-64 with me now:

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 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.” (Matthew 27:62-64)

And so, the next day the religious leaders come to Pilate with a request of their own. They remember Jesus said something about rising again after three days. Perhaps they are thinking of the time Jesus spoke to them about the sign of Jonah as recorded in Matthew 12: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)

Anyways, they are not so much afraid of Jesus rising again as they are of the disciples coming and stealing the body and then making believe that Jesus rose again. They tell Pilate, “This last deception will be worse than the first.” In other words, the worst thing that can happen for the religious leaders is if Jesus’ tomb somehow turns up empty on Sunday morning. Imagine that! So, they ask him to make the tomb secure until the third day to guard against this happening.

Pilate agrees to their request. Look at verses 65-66 next:

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:65-66)

There is an irony in Pilate’s words, “Go, make the tomb secure as you know how.” But that’s what they do. They put a seal on the stone and post a guard. The purpose of the stone is to prevent anyone from entering the tomb to remove the body. The purpose of the guards is to prevent anyone from moving the stone. The purpose of the seal is to prevent anyone from moving the stone without leaving evidence that the stone had been moved, for example, perhaps if someone bribed the guards to move the stone for them. Ian Campbell writes: “The whole authority of the Roman Empire is standing watch to make sure that no one will get into the grave. What they all fail to reckon with is the possibility that the person inside will get out!” (Ian Campbell, Opening up Matthew, p. 170)

So, they go and make the tomb as secure as they know how. But they think they are just guarding against an attempted theft by the disciples. They are certainly not prepared for another miraculous earthquake, similar to the one that took place on Friday at the time of Jesus’ death, which as you recall split the rocks and opened the tombs. They are certainly not prepared for a shining angel of the Lord to come down from heaven and roll away the stone as easily as if it were a soccer ball. Yes, they are prepared for the disciples, but they are definitely not prepared for divine resurrection. John Chrysostom writes: “Behold, both a seal, a stone, and a watch, and they were not able to hold him.”

And so, it was a futile request, and Pilate’s response was a futile response. What is even more ironic about all this is that all their actions only served to further confirm Jesus’ resurrection. If they hadn’t taken all these actions, then maybe they could have gotten away with blaming the disciples. But by making the tomb secure, the only explanation for the empty tomb on Sunday morning was that Jesus really did rise from the dead on the third day, just as he said.

And so that’s the third reason Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb – not only to show that he really died, but also to show that he really resurrected. If Joseph hadn’t buried Jesus in his own tomb, Jesus would most likely have been buried in a common grave along with the other two thieves, and we would not have the testimony of the empty tomb. The religious leaders take every precaution, but God’s sovereign plan goes forth regardless.

IV. So that through his poverty we may become rich
      – Romans 6:4-5, 8:17; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Timothy 2:11

Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb: 1) to fulfill prophecy; 2) to show that he really died; 3) to show that he really resurrected; and finally, 4) Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb so that through his poverty you and I may become rich.

There are actually two rich men in this story. When we speak of the rich man’s tomb, we naturally think first of Joseph of Arimathea. He was a rich man, and it was his tomb after all. But it was also Jesus’ tomb – Jesus, who was the wealthiest of all; Jesus, who gave up his riches in heaven and came to earth to be our Savior.

Here on earth, he lived a life of poverty. He was born in a manger. He never accumulated earthly goods. Matthew Henry writes: “As he had not a house of his own, wherein to lay his head while he lived, so he had not a grave of his own, wherein to lay his body when he was dead.” (Matthew Henry; The Gospel of Matthew) He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, and he was buried in a borrowed tomb. Fortunately, he didn’t need it for very long. Just a couple of days, and Joseph could have it right back again!

And why did Jesus do all this? Why did Jesus give up the riches of heaven to live and die in poverty on earth? We read in 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb so that through his poverty we may become rich.

And so, when it comes to the rich man’s tomb, now there are three people we need to consider. First there’s Joseph of Arimathea – he was a rich man, and it was his tomb. Then it became Jesus’ tomb – Jesus, who though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor. But then as we are united with Christ by faith, it becomes our tomb also, for we are buried with Christ through baptism and thus share in his death, burial and resurrection.

We read in Romans 6: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” (Romans 6:4-5) In other words, when Jesus died, you died with him. When Jesus was buried, you were buried with him. And just as Jesus rose from the dead, your body will surely rise one day as well.

And so, if you are a Christian this morning, you also have been buried in a rich man’s tomb. You have been buried through baptism with Jesus, the one who owned it all and gave it all so you could be saved. The Bible says, “If we died with him, we will also live with him” (2 Timothy 2:11) and that “we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). That’s the fourth reason Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb, so that through his poverty you and I may become rich.

CONCLUSION: And so, we find that Jesus’ burial is just as important as his death and resurrection. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb: 1) to fulfill prophecy, 2) to show that he really died, 3) to show that he really resurrected, 4) so that through his poverty we may become rich.

Jesus became poor so that you may become rich in him. But it all depends on if you are in Christ. Have you died with him who died for you? Have you been buried with him who was buried for you? Were you there when they crucified him? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Let us worship him who gave up everything so we could be saved.

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We have now followed Jesus all the way to the cross and past the cross to the tomb. Christ lay buried in the ground while the disciples wept and heaven waited. And now we wait too. We wait for Sunday morning when everything changes.

© Ray Fowler

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