John 19:31-42
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
The Burial of Jesus
38 “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. 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. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body and He and Nicodemus, another secret disciple, after using about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes wrapped His body with the spices and myrrh in linen strips according to Jewish customs..”
We read that Jesus arose on the third day. So He was buried on Friday lay in the tomb all day Saturday, and arose early Sunday Morning. At the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in it a new tomb in which no one had lain. And since it was nearby and the Jewish Day of Preparation, Jesus’ body was laid there.
As you and I observe this Easter Season, remembering that Jesus lived and died during difficult times and many thought that was the end of His life; however, early Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene went to the tomb she was surprised to see the stone that closed the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away; so confused she ran to the disciples.
Peter and John and told them someone had taken Jesus’ body and she did not know where they laid it. So Peter and John ran to the empty tomb. And John outran Peter but didn’t enter the tomb. They still did not understand about the resurrected Savior.
Prayer: If you read these words and do not know Jesus as your personal Savior; invite Him into your life! You’ll be glad you did!