As a young boy, my greatest fear was going to a funeral and seeing a dead body. I still remember how dreadfully scared I was; I would avoid all funerals and graveyards at all costs. I even remember my parents going to our hometown for a funeral, and I locked myself in a room and refused to come out until the body had been taken away.
Later, one of my uncles died in a terrible lorry accident. We didn’t know he was dead until the police called us to the station. When we arrived and asked for my uncle, they took us inside an old bus parked outside and showed us his body tied in a gunny bag. I saw that and fainted right there. The incident had such an impact on my heart and body—I was quite overweight at the time, but the trauma made me feverish for months, and I became very lean.
Today, we will look at a funeral and a burial. We will go to a graveyard and see the burial of one person. This burial will remove all fear, not only of funerals but of death itself. My Lord was buried to take away all my terror of the grave.
In our years of studying Matthew, we have come to Golgotha, seen the death of Christ, observed the reaction of God in three miracles, and then examined the four reactions of men: saving faith, superficial sorrow, unshakable faithfulness, and selfish fear. Now we come to the removal of our Lord’s body from the cross and His burial. Generally, Christians are eager to get down the mountain quickly after the death of Jesus to move on to the resurrection, without thinking deeply about His burial.
But just as His death and resurrection are miraculous, His burial is an amazing, miraculous event. We often think everything is over at the burial, but even the manner of His burial proves that He is none other than the Son of God. It is a marvelous thing to see God giving testimony to the deity of Christ even in His being buried. While Matthew moves directly to the burial, John records an event that happened after His death but before His interment: the piercing of our Lord’s side. We will look at that first to get the full picture.
Our sermon today is divided into four headings:
- The Piercing of Christ’s Side
- The Tension of Christ’s Burial
- The Man God Sent for the Burial
- A Bold Act of Faith
1. The Piercing of Christ’s Side
“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” (John 19:31)
The Lord was crucified during the Passover, the highest feast on the Jewish calendar. A Sabbath occurring during Passover was considered a “high day,” a very sacred time. The Jews were anxious that no bodies be left on the crosses as they entered that holy day. Their concern was rooted in the law found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which states that if a man is hanged on a tree, his body must not remain overnight so that the land is not defiled.
It is a peak of religious hypocrisy: they had just slaughtered the Lord of the Sabbath, yet they were meticulously worried about keeping the ritual laws of the Sabbath. They were “swallowing a camel while filtering a mosquito.” They went to Pilate and asked that the legs of the victims be broken to speed up their deaths.
Breaking the legs was a cruel practice. A soldier would use a heavy hammer to smash the knees. Because a crucified person had to push up with their legs to breathe, breaking those bones caused them to slump, leading to immediate suffocation. It was a way to condense hours of torture into a few minutes of agonizing shock.
“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.” (John 19:32-33)
The soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals, but when they reached Jesus, it was evident He was already dead. However, to be absolutely sure, one soldier pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Medical doctors have noted that under extreme trauma, the heart muscle (pericardium) can rupture, causing the blood and water to separate. Scripture tells us in Psalm 69:20, “Reproach has broken my heart.” Under the unbelievable weight of the world’s sin, Christ’s heart literally ruptured. The spear wound was so deep that Jesus could later tell Thomas, “Thrust your hand into My side.” The blood and water proved that He was truly human and, most importantly, truly dead.
2. The Tension of Christ’s Burial
Now that Christ is dead and the two criminals are dead, they must be taken down from their crosses. Generally, criminals were never given a proper burial; instead, they were thrown into a common criminal’s pit. This was likely a deep pit near the city called Gehenna, in the Valley of Hinnom—the garbage dump of Jerusalem. There, a smoldering fire burned continuously, and bodies were often left to be shredded and eaten by wild animals or vultures. This was the Roman way of warning the public: if you turn against Rome, you won’t even receive a decent burial; your body will be discarded like that of an orphan. This was the fate intended for Jesus.
Imagine the tension of this scene. On one side, there is the human tension of love. You are standing there with the women; they see that Jesus has died, and their hearts are broken as they sob uncontrollably. They watch as the soldiers smash the legs of the two criminals. When the soldiers come to the Lord, they do not break His legs, but they add further wounds to His body by piercing His side, and the women witness the flow of blood and water. The faithful women remain, weeping, as the lifeless body of the Lord hangs there.
The last respect paid to any ordinary man is his last rites and a proper burial, but this was no ordinary man. These women, who served Him throughout His ministry, yearn to give Him those last rites. Meanwhile, the “selfish, fearful” disciples have not appeared to show even a final mark of respect—unlike the disciples of John the Baptist, who took up his body and buried it after he was beheaded (Matthew 14:12).
However, there was almost no chance for a proper burial. In very rare cases, if a person was wealthy and influential with the Roman government, a body might be released to a relative. Roman law was strict: only a relative could request the body. Furthermore, if a person was executed for treason—as Jesus was recorded to be for claiming to be a king—the body was rarely handed over. Only Caesar, or his representative, could grant permission for a decent burial.
So, the poor women stand there helplessly. They have no influence and no money; they cannot even pass through Pilate’s gates to ask for the body. They stand there pathetically, while the male disciples lack the authority, resources, or bravery to intervene. If the Jewish leaders had their way, they would dishonor His body as much as possible, leaving it for the dogs and birds. There is a deep, loving human tension here.
There is also a prophetic tension. In Isaiah 53:9, a prophecy that covers so much of the Gospel, it says:
“And His grave was assigned with wicked men—Yet He was with a rich man in His death.”
The authorities had already assigned Him a grave with the criminals in the garbage pit, yet the prophecy says He will be buried with the rich. How could this happen? Jesus had no wealthy disciples nearby, and His relatives were not rich. These women from Galilee had no resources and no tomb in Jerusalem. How would this prophecy be fulfilled?
Finally, there is the urgency of time. Matthew 27:57 says, “Now when evening had come.” Jesus was crucified at 9:00 a.m.; the darkness lasted from noon until 3:00 p.m., and He died shortly after. It is now 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. on a Friday evening. In any funeral, there is a rush to finish rituals before it gets too late, but here, the Sabbath tension is extreme. As soon as the sun sets, the Sabbath begins. This was a “high” Passover Sabbath, and every devout Jew was in a hurry to finish their work and close their shops.
Furthermore, Christ had to be buried before sundown to fulfill His own prophecy of rising on the third day. In Jewish calculation, a part of a day counts as a full day; He needed to be in the grave for part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sunday. There was no time for a late-night burial.
Do you feel the tension? The human care of the women, the requirements of prophecy, the ticking clock, and the approaching Sabbath—only about two hours remain. Without a miracle, His body will be thrown into a pit like an orphan.
3. The Man God Sent for the Burial
“Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.” (Matthew 27:57)
Suddenly, the “hero” of the scene arrives: Joseph of Arimathea. Matthew highlights that he is a rich man to show the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. He is a prominent landlord, a man of great estate. When no other man’s name is mentioned at the cross, Joseph appears. He is a God-sent man, introduced here for the first time in Scripture.
By comparing the Gospels, we learn four things about him:
- He was very wealthy: A man of high standing and property.
- He was a prominent council member: He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling body of the Jews. Remarkably, Luke 23:51 tells us he did not consent to the decision to put Jesus to death.
- He was waiting for the Kingdom of God: He was part of the godly remnant in an apostate nation, a “good and righteous man” like Simeon or Anna.
- He was a secret disciple: John 19:38 explains that he followed Jesus secretly for fear of the Jews. In that culture, to openly confess Christ meant excommunication—being cut off from your family, your job, and your society.
Joseph had been growing in faith secretly in a climate of intense hatred for Christ. He was a man of personal dignity and honor, and because he was rich, he was the perfect man to fulfill the ancient prophecy. Out of nowhere, God provided the right man at the exact moment he was needed.
4. A Bold Act of Faith
In this tense situation, if there was one man who could fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, it was Joseph of Arimathea—but it would come at a very high cost. God moved upon his heart supernaturally and wonderfully; the secret disciple now came forward openly and acted quickly. We see his bold act of faith in verse 58:
“This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.” (Matthew 27:58)
This was a remarkably courageous act. Mark 15:43 tells us that Joseph, a prominent council member, “taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” You need tremendous boldness to do this. He had been a secret disciple for years, but now, under the power of God, he stepped forward. Consider the price he was willing to pay:
- Ceremonial Defilement: By entering the palace of a Gentile and touching a dead body, he rendered himself “unclean” according to Jewish tradition. This meant he would be unable to participate in the high Passover Sabbath. He essentially declared that caring for the body of Jesus was more important than his social standing or religious rituals.
- Facing a Hostile Governor: Pilate was already under immense emotional trauma and pressure because of this case. His wife had suffered nightmares over this “righteous man,” and Pilate had ultimately washed his hands of the affair in frustration. He was like a “wounded bear,” yet Joseph summoned the courage to face him.
- Risking His Reputation: Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin—the very body that had condemned Jesus. By giving Him an honorable burial, Joseph was publicly opposing his peers. This news would have spread like wildfire. He risked losing his position, his property, and his social status. He would be ostracized and alienated from his own people.
Where did he get this boldness while the “heroes” like Peter were still hiding? It was the grace of God working in his heart. His love for Jesus compelled him to pay a great cost with only minutes to spare before the sun went down.
When Joseph approached him, “Pilate marveled that He was already dead.” Victims of crucifixion usually lingered for days, so he summoned the centurion—the same man who had just confessed Jesus as the Son of God—to verify the death. Once confirmed, Pilate granted the body to Joseph as a gift.
Lessons and Applications
From these events, the absolute sovereignty of God shines brightly.
1. God’s Sovereignty Over Human Affairs
Did God just create the world and let it run on its own? No, He controls every action of men—even sinful men—to fulfill His purposes. We see this in the soldier who pierced Christ’s side. He was ordered to break the legs of the victims, yet he skipped Jesus and broke the legs of the robbers instead. When he returned to Jesus, he ignored his orders and, for no apparent human reason, pierced His side with a spear.
Why? Because God had decreed in Exodus and Psalm 34 that “not one of His bones shall be broken.” Simultaneously, he fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10: “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” Thousands of years of prophecy were fulfilled in a single moment by the “careless” actions of a soldier. God even controlled the timing of Jesus’ death; if He had died a moment later, His bones would have been broken, and He would not have qualified as the Passover Lamb.
2. God’s Sovereignty in Our Lives
Child of God, the Father who so carefully guarded the body of His Son is the same Father who guards you. If God was sovereign in purchasing our redemption, He is also sovereign in the application of it. Everything that happens in your life—including the sickness or difficulties you faced this week—is ordered by Him.
This gives us the confidence to pray and the peace to rest. God is sovereign over the leaders of nations and the circumstances of our lives. If we believe that “all things work together for good,” we must believe that all things are under His absolute control.
3. Encouragement for the Discouraged
Sometimes we are discouraged when we see believers hiding in fear. But God, in His sovereignty, will always find a “Joseph” to do His work at exactly the right time. We also learn that our Lord has followers in the most unexpected places—even among those who might appear to be enemies.
As J.C. Ryle said: “The powers of this world are only tools in the hand of God… The very things which now seem against us are all working together for God’s glory. We see but half now; yet a little, and we shall see all.”
To those who have not yet come to Christ: realize that God is patient with you for a purpose. Every failure, struggle, or sickness in your life is a call to repent and believe. This Gospel is not a fable; its roots go back through centuries of fulfilled prophecy. To reject it is the greatest folly. Trust in Him today, for a day is coming when every eye shall behold the One who was pierced.
See the side of Christ flowing with water and blood. Yes, it is cruel, but you know what a glorious sight of symbolic signs this is for sinners. In Christ’s work on the cross, his blood not only cleanses me from the defilement of sin, but the water also purifies me before a holy God. Blood cleanses me from all guilt of sin; water cleanses me from all power of sin. The water and blood from his side are a double cure for sinners like you and me—the double cure from sin’s guilt and sin’s power.
When we are tempted to doubt, we ask: can Christ’s blood deliver me from my sin fully and save me, taking me to heaven? Behold that sight! It not only delivers you from past sins, but through the water, it cleanses and delivers you even from future sins. It is a glorious, finished work. For the sinner, it is all done; you only receive the application of that work.
Secondly, behold in these events a marvelous display of God’s sovereignty in the salvation of men. Notice not only the absolute sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, but the marvelous, manifold grace of God in the conversion of men.
Consider God’s grace in who was converted. Didn’t Jesus say it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven? It is harder than for a camel to enter the eye of a needle, but Matthew says Joseph was a rich man. He entered into the kingdom of God. The Sanhedrin—what a horrible bunch! Jesus rebukes them with more terrible words than anywhere else in Scripture, yet out of the dunghill of religious externalism and hypocrisy, God grows this flower of grace. A man looking for the kingdom, God works in His grace and makes him a disciple secretly, and then, at a marvelous time, he comes forward openly.
See God’s sovereign grace in how he was converted. Early on, he would have heard Jesus’ teaching, and God would have worked in his heart through the truth. He was attracted to follow Jesus, but his saving faith was small, weak, and growing; it was not strong enough to openly identify with Jesus. During the time of the trial, his faith didn’t allow him to join the group to plot against and condemn Jesus. Now, he likely saw the way they tortured him, humiliated him, and the way he died. He would have seen the rent veil, the earthquake, and the resurrection of the saints.
His faith became strong; the man comes out boldly, whatever the cost. He was prepared to face all the risks of identifying with Jesus, even if he lost his wealth, name, family, and even his own head. When his own disciples, who followed him for three years, fled in the face of rejection and the suffering of the cross, it is this dead, bruised, and torn corpse that becomes the occasion for confessing the grace in the heart of Joseph.
The disciples had seen miracles and were given power to perform those same miracles, but at the mere thought of arrest, suffering, the cross, and death, they ran away—gone, not to be seen. Joseph comes forward at the time when Jesus is rejected and bruised. He dares to go to Pilate, becomes “unclean,” identifies with Jesus, and incurs the anger of the whole nation and the Sanhedrin. It is the grace of God that triggered that boldness. Behold the sovereign grace of God!
What a wonder of grace! It not only saves an unlikely man of the Sanhedrin, but it is a grace that works by degrees and through varying means, bringing sinners to make a real confession before a hating world.
Sitting here this morning: Are you a disciple of Jesus? What kind of disciple are you? Are you a disciple who shows your faith in bold acts of confession? How many just claim to be disciples of Christ because they are scared of hell, or want Jesus’ blessings of forgiveness and heaven, or want his church—all for a decent life—but are never ready to take any risk or sacrifice for Christ?
How can you be assured of your salvation? When we see so many hearts without grace—how much they deny Christ while claiming to be followers, yet are not willing to take a small risk or sacrifice. They are namesake Christians who, for money, position, or a worldly name, sell Christ and even sell his church. Look at this man’s bold faith—his bold, confessing faith. Ask yourself an honest question: what is the cost you have paid to follow Christ? Except for coming on Sunday morning as a habit, which even a traditional churchgoer would do, what price do you pay to follow Christ? Learn from Joseph the true meaning of discipleship.
Until you confess before the world boldly, no matter what the cost, you can have no assurance you are a true believer; neither does the church have that assurance. To the people sitting here: you say you believe in Jesus Christ, but neither you nor I can say you truly believe and that grace has worked in your interior until you come forward and openly confess Jesus like this man, no matter what the cost.
The only way we prove we are true believers is when we confess Christ before a hostile world. Scripture says if thou shalt believe and confess Jesus is Lord, then thou art saved. This is a marvelous example of confessing faith. As a true believer, you are prepared to identify with him, whether in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or an India filled with opposition.
See, there are millions and millions who will be deceived on the Day of Judgment, thinking the grace of God has worked in their hearts. Unless there is a sense of risk-taking, sacrifice for Christ, denying self, and confessing him boldly, you have no grounds to believe you are a true Christian. This is because Scripture says in Matthew 10:32: “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.” This means they are not saved.
The kingdom of God is like a merchant seeking pearls; when a man finds one, he sells all so he can obtain it. See this man: he paid the cost in reputation, riches, name, and position. Everything was risked and perhaps lost. Like Moses, instead of the fleeting pleasures of sin, he saw so much value in the reproach of Christ. This is the fruit of true saving grace working in your heart. If this grace works in your heart, it will reveal itself in such good works for Christ and his kingdom.