John 19:38-42
Jesus Is Buried
Read the passage
38Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
39Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
41Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Joseph of Arimathea has followed Jesus secretly because he fears the authorities. Now he asks Pilate for permission to remove Jesus' body. With permission given, he comes and takes it.
Nicodemus joins him, bringing about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. John reminds us that this is the man who earlier came to Jesus at night. Together they wrap the body in linen with the spices, following the Jewish burial custom.
Nearby is a garden with a new tomb where no one has yet been laid. Because it is the day of Preparation and the tomb is close, they place Jesus there. Their work meets the immediate need with care.
Joseph's fear has been real, but it does not prevent this act. Nicodemus brings what is needed. At the end of a day of public cruelty, these men honor Jesus' body. They cannot undo His death; they can give Him a proper burial.
Questions
1 Who asks Pilate for Jesus' body, and who helps prepare it for burial?
AnswerJoseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for permission to remove Jesus' body. Nicodemus brings myrrh and aloes, and together they prepare the body for burial.
2 How do Joseph and Nicodemus honor Jesus despite the danger?
AnswerJoseph asks Pilate for the body, Nicodemus brings spices, and they wrap Jesus in linen before placing him in a nearby garden tomb. The burial customs and the approaching Sabbath explain why their careful work must happen quickly.
3 Why is the new tomb in the garden important to the account?
AnswerThe new tomb matters because it is in a garden near the place of crucifixion and no one had yet been laid in it. Joseph and Nicodemus can place Jesus there quickly before the Sabbath preparation is complete.
4 How can our household show faithful care when a situation seems to have ended in loss?
AnswerThink of someone who is carrying grief, illness, exhaustion, or a responsibility that has become too heavy. Choose one practical act of help, ask before assuming what is wanted, and offer it without demanding a quick emotional response.
What This Means for Us
Joseph and Nicodemus show that love can be expressed through careful work when words are not enough. Their actions do not erase the horror of the cross, but they refuse to treat Jesus' body or the grief of his friends as an inconvenience. We can bring that same respect to people who are sick, aging, grieving, or unable to manage everything alone.
There are times when a family cannot make a situation better immediately. It can still be trustworthy. Keep a promise, show up when you said you would, bring practical help, or sit with someone without forcing the conversation toward a conclusion. These are not substitutes for hope; they are ways hope becomes patient and present.
Offer a grieving person one practical kind of help this week. Ask what would help them, then follow through without expecting them to feel better on your timetable.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the care Joseph and Nicodemus gave to Jesus. Help us follow through when love requires work that is difficult or sorrowful. Give us courage to act even when we are afraid. Amen.