Because the Sabbath of the Passover week, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was approaching and the Jews did not want any bodies hanging on the cross on that High Sabbath, they asked Pilate to break their legs and dispose of the bodies.
The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first criminal, but when they came to Jesus, they saw that He was already dead. So they did not break His legs. But to be sure that Jesus was dead they took a spear and pierced His side. Blood and water poured from His wound.
They fulfilled the Scripture that said,
“Not a bone of his body will be broken. And again, they will look on him who they pierced.”
Joseph of Arimathea, who was a rich man and also a good and righteous man, had not consented to what the chief priests and rulers of Israel had done. He was also looking for the kingdom of God, and was a secret disciple of Jesus, fearing the Jews.
He boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was amazed that Jesus was already dead and called the centurion in charge to ask how long Jesus had been dead.
The centurion verified that Jesus was dead and told Pilate the details of His death. Pilate then gave the body of Jesus to Joseph of Arimathea.
Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus by night, had also come to help with the dead body of Jesus. He brought with him about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes. Joseph brought linen cloth.
Joseph took down the body of Jesus and wrapped Him in linen cloth with spices, which was the burial custom of the Jews.
Now, near the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden, there was a new tomb that had been carved out of the rock. No one had been buried in this tomb before.
They laid Jesus in the tomb and rolled a great stone up against the door of the tomb and left.
The women who had come from Galilee followed after Joseph and his party and saw the place where Jesus’ body was laid. Mary Magdalene was there and the other Mary.
They returned to where they were staying to prepare spices and ointments for burial. But they rested on the Sabbath day.
The chief priests and Pharisees gathered together and came to Pilate. They said to Pilate,
‘Sir, we remember that this deceiver said while He was still alive that He would rise again after three days.
Command that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that one of His disciples does not come and steal the body and say to the people that Jesus is risen from the dead, which would make matters worse.’
Pilate said to them,
‘I will give you a squadron of guards so that you can go and make the tomb secure.’
So they went and secured the tomb where Jesus had been laid, sealing the stone and posting guards around it.
