Evidence for the Entombment of Jesus
Opening Prayer for the Drawer Nearer Study Group
Lord Jesus, as we meet together in your name,
prepare us in heart and mind
to listen to what you have to say to us.
Help us to listen to one another,
so that we may help each other
to grasp your will for us.
Deepen and enrich our fellowship as members of your body
inspire us with a deep longing for your truth;
and enable to grow together in knowledge, in love
and in the joyous freedom of the children of God;
for your name’s sake.
Amen
Matthew Chap: 27
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Burial of Jesus
57 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.
59 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
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On the evening of Jesus’ death, a rich man from Arimathea arrived, his name was Joseph.
Joseph, a respected member of the Sanhedrin and a secret disciple of Jesus, approached Pontius Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, a bold move that demonstrated his devotion and courage. He would probably, have had to pay Pilate for the release of Jesus’ body.
Pilate, surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, confirmed His death with the centurion before granting Joseph’s request.
Joseph, along with Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus at night, took Jesus body from the cross wrapped it in a new linen sheet and placed it in his own tomb, which he had just recently dug out of solid rock.
Nicodemus had brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight, to anoint Jesus’ body, further indicating the honour and reverence given to Him in death
After they had placed Jesus body in the tomb, they rolled a large stone across the entrance and went away.
The Witnesses
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting, facing the tomb. They were unable to embalm Jesus, because of the Sabbath. They would return on the third day, having purchased spices, to re-embalm him.
The Guard at the Tomb
To prevent any tampering with the body, the chief priests and Pharisees requested that Pilate secure the tomb, by setting guards. Pilate agreed, and a guard was placed, and the stone was sealed
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The event of Jesus being taken down from the cross and subsequently buried is a significant moment in the Christian narrative, marking the culmination of His earthly suffering and the prelude to His resurrection.
This event is recorded in all four Gospels, each providing a harmonious account of the actions taken by His followers and the fulfilment of prophetic Scripture, as seen in-
Isaiah Chap:53
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, he was punished.
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.
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Questions
1. What details about the entombment stand out most in the Gospel accounts, and why might each writer have included them?
2. Who was Joseph of Arimathea? and why is his role significant, and what does it reveal about discipleship or courage?
3. What does the hurried burial before the Sabbath tell us about Jewish customs and the urgency of the moment?
4. How does the presence of the women at the tomb challenge or reinforce cultural expectations of the time?
Conclusion
The burial of Jesus Christ is a pivotal event that underscores the reality of His death and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.
It sets the stage for the resurrection, which is central to Christian faith, affirming Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.
The actions of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, along with the presence of the women, reflect the deep love and commitment of His followers, even in the face of despair and uncertainty.
Closing Prater
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Between-Sessions – Personal Study – Session 2 to 3
After last night’s second session, please take some time in Personal Study.
Please reflect on the session
The time you invest will be well spent, so let God use it to draw you closer to him.
At our next meeting on the 8th June at Arley Church Barn, please share with the group any key points or insights that stood out to you as you have spent this time with the Lord.
Study God’s Word
During the next few weeks, until the next session, please, examine –
Matthew Chap: 28
Jesus Has Risen
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow.
4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,
13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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What stands out in this study that you didn’t notice previously?
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One way to highlight and personalize the Scriptures, I find, is to use a technique called paraphrasing, where you rewrite the verses using your own words. By doing this, you can interact with the text in an intimate way.
Please take your time with this exercise. Start with a brief prayer, asking the Lord to help you as you work through the text. Next, take a few minutes to read through the entire passage again slowly and carefully. Then, begin your paraphrasing.
Write down a few statements to summarise how it felt to interact with the text in this way.
Take in, some of Session 2’s teaching, along with the insights you are gleaning personally
God’s blessing
Dave.