57 When the even was come, there came arichmanof Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple :
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesas. Then Pilate com- manded the body to be delivered,
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock : and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over a- gainst the sepulchre.
62 Now the next day, that follovv^ed the day of the preparation, the Chief
Priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive. After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the se- pulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead ; so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch : go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sei3ulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
These verses contain the history of our Lord Jesus Christ's burial. There was yet one thing needful, in order to make it certain that our Kedeemer accomj^lished that great work of redemption which He undertook. That holy body, in which He bore our sins on the cross, must actually be laid in the grave, and rise again. His resurrection was to be the seal and head-stone of all the work.
The infinite wisdom of God foresaw the objections of unbelievers and infidels, and provided against them. — Did the Son of God really die ? Did he really rise again ? Might there not have been some delusion as to the reality