Burial of Christ
The burial of Jesus marks the completion of His earthly ministry
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Fulfillment of Prophecy/Scripture
→ Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
Matthew 27:57-60 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (See Mark 15:43-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42)
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Confirmation of His Death
The burial serves as a confirmation that Jesus truly died. Roman soldiers verified His death by piercing His side (John 19:34), and His body was wrapped in linen and spices according to Jewish burial customs (John 19:38-40).
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Three Days in the Grave
Hosea 6:1-2 "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight."
Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Jonah 1:17"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
See Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:23, Matthew 20:19, Mark 8:31, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:34, Luke 9:22, Luke 18:33, Luke 24:7, Luke 24:46
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A Temporary Resting Place
The tomb was a temporary resting place, symbolizing Jesus' triumph over death and the grave. His burial was the precursor to His resurrection, demonstrating His power over death (John 20:1-9).
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Symbolism in Christian Baptism
The burial of Jesus is also symbolic in Christian baptism. As mentioned in Romans 6:4, believers are "buried with him by baptism into death" and are raised to "walk in newness of life," reflecting the death and resurrection of Jesus.
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Guarding the Tomb
The chief priests and Pharisees were concerned that Jesus' disciples might steal His body and claim He had risen. They requested that Pilate secure the tomb, so soldiers were placed to guard it and a seal was set on the stone (Matthew 27:62-66).