The Burial of Jesus - Hope in the Darkness
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The Burial of Jesus - Hope in the Darkness
It was over.
The sky had gone dark. The earth had shaken. And now, the man who had healed the sick, raised the dead, and claimed to be the Son of God hung lifeless on a Roman cross.
The crowds that had shouted "Crucify Him!" just hours earlier now shuffled home in silence. The disciples, who had promised to stand by Jesus no matter what, had all run away. Even Peter—who swore he would die before denying his Lord—had disappeared into the night, weeping bitterly.
Everything seemed hopeless.
But in the darkness, God was still at work.
A Courageous Request
As evening approached, a wealthy man named Joseph from the town of Arimathea went to see Pilate. Joseph was a member of the Jewish ruling council, but secretly a follower of Jesus (Mark 15:43). Risking his reputation—and possibly his life—he asked for Jesus’ body.
Pilate, surprised Jesus had died so quickly, confirmed it with the centurion before releasing the body to Joseph (Mark 15:44-45).
Why This Matters:
Joseph risked everything to honor Jesus
Shows God can use anyone—even quiet followers—in big ways
Proves Jesus really died (some later claimed He just fainted)
A Hurried Burial
With the Sabbath beginning at sunset, they had to work quickly.
Nicodemus—another religious leader who had once visited Jesus at night (John 3)—brought about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes, expensive burial spices (John 19:39). Together, they wrapped Jesus’ body in clean linen cloth with the spices, following Jewish burial customs.
Near the crucifixion site was a garden with a new tomb cut into the rock—one that had never been used. Joseph owned it, and it was here they laid Jesus (Matthew 27:59-60).
Why This Matters:
Fulfilled prophecy that the Messiah would be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9)
The new tomb meant no confusion about whose body it was
The heavy stone door would later prove the resurrection
The Women Who Stayed
While most disciples fled, some women remained. Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" (likely Jesus’ mother or Mary the mother of James) watched as Joseph and Nicodemus buried their Lord (Matthew 27:61).
These same women would return after the Sabbath to properly anoint the body—which is how they became the first witnesses of the resurrection.
Why This Matters:
Shows God honors those who remain faithful in dark times
Proves the resurrection accounts weren’t made up (women’s testimony wasn’t valued then)
Encourages us to keep watching for God even when hope seems gone
The Guard at the Tomb
The chief priests remembered Jesus saying He would rise after three days. Worried His disciples might steal the body to fake a resurrection, they asked Pilate to seal the tomb and post guards (Matthew 27:62-66).
Pilate granted their request. A Roman seal was placed on the stone, and armed soldiers stood watch.
The Irony:
These precautions would only prove the resurrection more credible
The very people who rejected Jesus helped confirm His greatest miracle
Sometimes opposition becomes part of God’s plan
The Silence of Saturday
The Bible says little about that Sabbath day between the crucifixion and resurrection. Imagine how the disciples felt:
Peter - Ashamed of his denials
John - Grieving the loss of his best friend
Mary - Heartbroken over her son’s death
Thomas - Doubting everything he’d believed
It seemed like the end of the story.
But God often works most powerfully in the silence.
Hope in the Darkness
What can we learn from Jesus’ burial?
God Uses Unexpected People
A secret disciple (Joseph)
A nighttime seeker (Nicodemus)
Heartbroken women
Opposition Can’t Stop God’s Plan
The sealed tomb just made the resurrection more undeniable
Darkness Precedes Dawn
The worst day in history became the foundation of our hope
Love Is Stronger Than Death
The grave couldn’t hold Him
The Stone Will Roll Away
Little did Joseph know his donated tomb would be empty in 36 hours. The women preparing spices wouldn’t need them. The guards trying to prevent a hoax would witness a miracle.
This burial wasn’t the end—it was the setup for the greatest comeback in history.
For Us Today
When you’re in your own "Saturday"—that painful time between death and resurrection:
Remember: God isn’t finished
Trust: What looks like an ending may be a setup for a miracle
Watch: Morning is coming
Because here’s the truth: The same power that raised Jesus from that tomb can bring hope to your darkest situation.
The stone will roll away.
The light will shine in.
And the story isn’t over yet.
Final Thought: That sealed tomb held a silent secret—death was about to meet its match. Whatever grave you’re facing today, take heart. Sunday’s coming.