THE PIERCED CHRIST / THE BURIAL

Now since it was the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath, and it was already evening, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, a soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. This happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.” (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20) Again, another passage says, “They will mourn for the one whom they have pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10) After this, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, a virtuous and righteous man, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, who was also secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews. He had not consented to their plan of action. He courageously went to Pilate and asked if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned of it from the centurion, then Pilate ordered that the body be handed over to Joseph. They took the body of Jesus down; Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now, in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. (The tomb belonged to Joseph) Because it was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin, they laid Jesus in his new tomb that had been hewn out of the rock for the tomb was close by. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph who had come from Galilee with him followed behind. Now sitting there, and facing the tomb, they watched where he was laid. When they had seen the tomb, and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

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