Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

As evening came on the Preparation Day, Joseph from Arimathaea went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Joseph was a rich man, a member of the council, and a disciple of Jesus. Pilate checked that Jesus had died, then gave Joseph permission to take the body.

Joseph took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen. Nicodemus came too, bringing burial spices, and together they prepared the body for burial in the Jewish way. They needed to do this before the Sabbath, which was drawing near.

Near the place where Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in it was a new tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been laid. It was Joseph’s own tomb. He laid Jesus there and rolled a large stone across the entrance before leaving.

Some of the women stayed nearby and watched carefully. Mary Magdalene was there, and another Mary. The women from Galilee saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid there. Afterwards they prepared spices and ointments, and on the Sabbath they rested as the commandment required.

The next day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. They remembered that Jesus had said he would rise after three days, and they asked for the tomb to be secured so his disciples could not steal the body and tell the people he had risen. So they went with the guard, sealed the stone, and made the tomb secure.