The Burial of Christ

Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42

Works of art by Andrea Mantegna, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Urs Fischer
Video commentary by Jennifer Sliwka

Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42

Bible passage (Revised Standard Version)

Matthew 27

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimatheʹa, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. 61Mary Magʹdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.

Mark 15

42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimatheʹa, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47Mary Magʹdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Luke 23

50 Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimatheʹa. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; 56then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

John 19

38 After this Joseph of Arimatheʹa, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. 39Nicodeʹmus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. 40They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. 42So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.