Two Unlikely Undertakers

NORTH PINE BAPTIST CHURCH

Friday 18th April 2025 – Good Friday

John 19:38-42

“Two Unlikely Undertakers”

There is something about a grave that says “the end”.

We don’t do it as much now, but standing around a graveside.

Watching a coffin being lowered.

Covering the coffin with dirt.

It’s the end.

Even with a cremation.

Burning to ashes and scattering to the wind.

Some cultures put a body onto a whole heap of wood.

Some make a raft and light it and send it out to sea.

The end.

When a person dies that is what happens to the body.

It needs to be dealt with in some way.

That includes the body of Jesus.

All four Gospels tell us about the moment Jesus died.

This is how Matthew records it in Matthew 27:45-50.

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”).

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit.

Dead.

Now there is a body on the cross.

Actually there are three bodies.

The body of Jesus. And the bodies of the two criminals crucified with Him.

If the Romans had their way they would have left all three crucified bodies on the cross. This served as a reminder to the whole community as to what would happen if you messed with the Roman legal system.

After a couple of weeks the bodies would be thrown away.

But the Romans knew that the Jews were very sensitive about dead people.

And the Romans did their best to try and respect the laws of the local area.

God’s law required that all people needed to be buried by the end of the day.

Even those who were condemned criminals.

Deuteronomy 21:22-23

22 If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a tree, 23 you must not leave the body hanging on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

The first century historian, Josephus, when describing how the Jews treat people who have died says,

We bury all whom the law condemns to die. Let our enemies who fall in battle also be buried. (Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 4.265)

In Jewish thinking all the dead were to be buried. Nobody, not even the religious leaders, expect Jesus’ body to be discarded or treated with disrespect. What is unexpected is who buries Jesus. We are reading John 19:38-42

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about thirty four kilograms. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Two Unlikely Undertakers

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

Who is Joseph of Arimathea?

In the Bible Joseph of Arimathea appears only in connection with the burial of Jesus. However his appearance is so important all four Gospel writers tell us about him.

Matthew tells us he had become a disciple of Jesus. Matthew also tells us that Joseph owned the tomb which Jesus was buried in.

Mark tells us that he was a prominent member of the Council. Just so you know it was “The Council” who condemned Jesus to death.

Luke tells us that did not consent to their (that is the Council) decision and action. So he tried to defend Jesus and prevent the injustice.

John tells us that Joseph had been keeping the fact that he was a disciple a secret.

The combined information gives us a good idea on who Joseph is.