
According to Jewish custom, burial of the dead had to take place on the same day of death. His body had been turned over to Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. The women followed and watched as Jesus was carried to the freshly carved tombed and witnessed the burial.
It was a tomb fit for a wealthy man, yet He had no home to call His own. He was tended to by His wealthy followers – members of the Sanhedrin. His body was washed and anointed with oil and, as was the custom, His matted hair would be trimmed and washed. The tightly woven Linen cloth covered His torn, smitten, lifeless body as He was placed upon His final resting place – cloth reserved for only the rich. 75 pounds of nard was placed within the cloths which covered Him. It was a burial worthy of the Prince of Peace.
The tomb was cut out of rock – hewn right from the stone walls which surrounded it. A stone was placed over the entrance and sealed with a Roman seal to protect it from entrance. It was also done to end this Jesus mania that had spread over the countryside, but there was no stopping this movement. It wasn’t man instigated. It was the fulfillment of God’s promise to humanity. Jesus had given His life for the sins of the world.
“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:9
On the third day, the burial cloths were all that remained. Jesus was alive again!
He is risen indeed!
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Very fitting tribute for the Easter Celebration. I appreciate the details about the Jewish Traditions on burial. Very interesting.
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Thank you very much. I actually am doing the play, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with my group of young actors and was surprised that the funeral customs of old included cutting the hair. In this children’s story the lion, Aslan has his mane cut off. So much symbolism and parallels in that story. Glad you enjoyed my post!
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