Jesus died. There can be no doubt about it. Speaking of another death, the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol also want to make sure the readers are convinced. “Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever, about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it; and Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail… There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.”
Mark recorded, “When it was already evening, because it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had already died. When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.” (Mark 15:42–47, CSB)
Jesus’ death was attested by a prominent member of the Jewish ruling council and a Roman centurion. We are told in John’s Gospel that the fact was confirmed with a spear thrust before Jesus was removed from the cross. His body was wrapped in linens and spices and placed in a carved stone tomb. A large stone was rolled across the entrance. Other gospels report that the stone was sealed and guarded by a contingent of Roman soldiers. Mark reports that two women followed and observed the tomb’s location.
Every detail matters. Many have tried to debunk what comes next. Claiming that Jesus wasn’t really dead, or that his body was stolen, or that the women went to the wrong tomb. Joseph of Arimathea may have been a follower of Jesus from a distance, but he wasn’t one of the disciples. Neither would the Roman centurion have inclination or motive to lie about Christ’s death. Others were also sure that He had died. It is reported in other Gospels that the chief priest watched him die and feared that someone might try to fake a resurrection. If there were any doubt about Jesus’ being dead, they would have complained about his removal to Pilate.
The tomb was designed to prevent grave robbers. It was the tomb Joseph had prepared for himself. Single entrance with a heavy stone on a sloped path that would require several strong men to roll back. No back door, and the front sealed and guarded. The location of that tomb would be burned into Mary’s memory. While Joseph is not mentioned again, neither has he disappeared from Jerusalem. He would know his own tomb.
Jesus died. He was wrapped in linens and spice. He was laid in a new tomb and secured by a heavy stone and a Roman seal. What comes next is a day of silence and the wondrous glory of Sunday morning.
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