The burial of Jesus is
a key event in the gospel story.
After His death on the cross,
Jesus was placed in a tomb,
confirming that He truly died.
His burial is an essential part
of the gospel message
and fulfills Old Testament prophecy.
It also sets the stage for
His resurrection on the third day.
All four Gospels record the burial of Jesus:
- Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin and a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for the body (Matthew 27:57-58; Mark 15:42-43; Luke 23:50-52; John 19:38).
- Nicodemus, who had earlier come to Jesus by night, joined Joseph and brought a large quantity of spices (myrrh and aloes) for the burial (John 19:39).
- They wrapped Jesus’ body in clean linen cloths with the spices, according to Jewish burial customs (John 19:40).
- They laid His body in Joseph’s own new tomb, which had been cut out of rock and had never been used before (Matthew 27:60; Luke 23:53; John 19:41).
- A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb (Matthew 27:60; Mark 15:46).
- The tomb was located in a garden near the place of crucifixion (John 19:41-42).
The burial took place quickly because the Sabbath was about to begin.
The burial of Jesus is important for several reasons:
- It confirms His death — Jesus was truly dead. The Roman soldiers, Joseph, Nicodemus, and the women who watched all confirmed His death before burial.
- It fulfills prophecy — Isaiah 53:9 prophesied that the Messiah would be “with a rich man in his death.” Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man, and Jesus was buried in his tomb.
- It is part of the gospel — The Apostle Paul includes the burial in the core gospel message: “Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
- It prepares for the resurrection — The empty tomb on Sunday morning becomes powerful evidence of the resurrection because everyone knew exactly where Jesus had been buried.
¶ The Sealed Tomb and Guard
After the burial:
- The chief priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to secure the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).
- Pilate granted their request, and a guard was posted.
- The tomb was sealed with an official Roman seal.
These measures were intended to prevent the disciples from stealing the body, but they ultimately served to strengthen the evidence for the resurrection when the tomb was found empty.
- Matthew 27:57-66
- Mark 15:42-47
- Luke 23:50-56
- John 19:38-42
- Isaiah 53:9
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
The burial of Jesus is often overlooked, but it is a vital part of the gospel. It confirms that Jesus truly died and was placed in a known tomb. The fact that His body was missing three days later, despite the sealed tomb and Roman guard, becomes powerful evidence that He rose from the dead. The burial shows that Jesus fully entered into death so that He could fully conquer it.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.