The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 436

the tomb Rn(l left there, 2. The narrative is also conclusive as to the reality of onr Lord's resurrection. He could not have risen from the dead unless ho had first died. It is not possible to disconnect the several parts of the narrative from one another. A~ lt stands, tho record is consistent and credible. II. TaE APPLIOANT AND THE APPLICATION. It is remarkable that, in the very crisis when the professed and prominent disciples of Jesus were timid and vanished from the ■cone, two secret disciples c11me forward and discharged the last offices of friendship for the Lord, in his humiliation, Of Joseph we know that he was from Arimathrea, that he was nc~ 11nd an honoured member of the Sanhedrin, that he did not agree to the co~d~mnat10~ _passed upon the Prophet of Nazareth. We also know concerning his rehgwus pos1t10n that he was one of those who were looking for God's kingdom to be set. up, and that he was o. disciple of Jesus, though secretly, for fear of the Jews. '\V1th Joseph was o.ssociate,! Nicodemus, who seems to have been emboldened by the example of Joseph to como forward, to declare his affection for Jesus, and to take part in the intermeu.t of his Master. An illustration of the contagion of a courageous example, which may bo commended to those who are hesitating between secret an,l open discipleship. With respect to Pilate, it is to be observed that, a.s he had no per- sonal hostility to Jesus, and probably took a pleasure in annoying the Jewish leaders, he was naturally willing enough, apparently without being bribP,d, to agree to the request of Joseph. He satisfied himself, by the testimony of the centurion, that Jesus was dead, and then suffered the applicant to take the body. Thus neither was the corpse exposed during the Paschal solemnities, nor was it consigned to the indignity of a criminal's interment. III. THE PLACE AND MANNER OF THE DURUL. Tender care is manifested in every line of this picture. Affectionate hands wound the body in folds of costly linen. Con- secrated wealth placed myrrh and aloes in the folds. Generous fellowship offered the tomb which was designed for the owner's family, but which was deemed to be honoured and sanctified by becoming the temporary abode of the Saviour's form. Strong and willing hands rolled the great stone against the opening to the rock-hewn sepulchre. Reverent and loving women, who had watched the Sufferer when on the cross, now watched the lifeless body consigned to its peaceful resting-place. These are homely incidents, but they are hallowed and glorified by the human love which they reveaL Fancy lingers by the garden which was the scene of these ministrations, and finds it seemly that, as a garden had witnessed the Saviour's agony, a garden also 11honld witness his repose. IV. TrrE WONDROUS FACT OF CRRIBT'B DURIAL, That Jesus, being what he was, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, the King of men, should consent to die and to be buried, is amazing indeed. That such a life-a life devoted to benevolent purposes, a life evincing the possession of irresistible power-should end in the grave, this appears altogether anomalous. That men should slay their Saviotll', that he should consent to die, that the Father in heaven should suffer such an end to such a career,-this must fill a thoughtful and sensitive observer with wonder akin to fear I Earth was for some hours the sepulchre of the Son of God I v. 'fHE RELIGIOUS BIGNIFI0AN0E OF THE BURIAL OF CHRIST. 1. We remark Jesus sharing the whole of our lot in its utmost humiliation. He who stooped to the manger at his birth did not disdain the grave after his death. As Son of man, he would shrink from no.human experience. It behoved him in all things to be made like his brethren. Thus he qualified himself to be at once our Representative before God, and our eternal Brother-a High Priest tonched with a feeling of our infirmities. 2. We remark that the end of our Lord's humiliation was the beginning of his glory and reign. He was made perfect through suffering. Through the grave he passed to the throne. His "precious death and burial" were the means and the introduction to the majesty and dominion which are his or right, and his for ever. VI. THE PBAOTI0AL LESSONS OF CHRIST'S BUBUL. 1. Our obligation to gratitude and love is brought strikingly before our hearts when we thus learn what our Saviour bore for 118, 2. Christians are spiritually to share Christ's death and sepulture. They are buried with Christ,-by their baptism unto his death. S. The grave loses its terrors to those who know that Jesus shares it with his people. As the tomb could not hold him, eo the stone which seals his people's sepulchre shall surely be rolled away.-T. JOHN,-ll. 2 lit 4-60 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. (on. xrx. 1-4!?.