700 years before Jesus’ death, Isaiah predicted the burial of the Suffering Servant: 

“His grave was assigned to be with wicked men, 

Yet with a rich man in His death.” (Isaiah 53:8) 

The humiliation of victims condemned to death by Roman law did not stop when they died. Their property was forfeited as was their right to a decent burial. The usual practice was to leave the body on the cross to rot or be eaten by birds or animals. Or they were simply thrown into the nearby dump of Hinnom to be consumed, along with the rest of the rubbish, by the fire that constantly burned there. 

The family could request permission from the authorities to bury their loved one, and this was often granted, but not in the case of someone convicted of high treason. 

Pilate’s granting of permission for Joseph to bury Jesus is highly unusual, because according to the Romans, Jesus was guilty of treason. 

The tenderness and love displayed by Joseph in his care for the body of Jesus stands in stark contrast to that of the Romans. Joseph would have followed the Jewish tradition of washing the body before wrapping it tightly in fine linen. As the body was being bound, spices were interspersed between each layer. John’s Gospel tells us that Nicodemus, who assisted Joseph in the burial, provided over 34 kilograms of spices for this purpose – an expensive and touching demonstration of his love for Jesus. 

Once buried, the body would be left in the tomb to decompose and a year later, the bones were removed, put in a box, and then placed in a space on the wall of the tomb. 

And so, Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich man, just as Isaiah had said. 

But there will be no return to the tomb in a year’s time to remove the bones, because in three short days, this alleged condemned criminal will rise from the dead as the victorious Son of God – Conqueror of sin and death! 

Today’s Bible reading: Mark 15:42-45