John 19:38-42 - Buried

19:38-40

Joseph of Arimathea fulfilled Isaiah 53:9 about Jesus having a grave with the rich. Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus, secret because of fear of the Jewish leaders. Note that John has an somewhat ambiguous attitude towards the secret disciples (Joseph and Nicodemus). Pilate gave Joseph permission to take the body away.

Nicodemus was another secret disciple and his earlier encounter with Jesus (John 3) must have had some effect on him. Nicodemus came with various perfumes for the burial. So the body was buried in the normal way for Jews, bound in a linen cloth and with spices.

19:41,42

Jesus was buried in a new tomb. The fact that it was a garden indicates it was a fairly large plot of ground. The tomb was handy, being near the place of crucifixion. With the Sabbath close at hand, they were keen to deal with the body quickly.