Volume 5 11th Trailhead – 1st Trail

We are on the first trail of Matthew 27:57-60.  It is set in the context of the burial of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 27:54-64.

Salvation is wrought by the death, burial, and resurrection of the beloved Son of God in the flesh as Jesus of Nazareth, the Promised Messiah.

He Who knew no sin God made Him to be sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We find 2 Corinthians 5:21 echoing what Isaiah 53:9 said about Him being assigned with the wicked.

Death by crucifixion was the most painful and debased way to die.  The Roman custom was to leave a crucified corpse hanging to rot and be eaten by birds and animals of prey.  It was to serve as an effective deterrent to any would-be criminals.  However, Jewish custom demanded that even executed criminals should be buried according to Deuteronomy 21:23, albeit in a mass grave outside Jerusalem. The body of Jesus was going to be thrown into a pit along with the two criminals who were crucified with Him. Jesus died the death of a criminal with criminals and was destined for a criminal’s grave.  However, His body was laid in the grave of a nobleman.  It was fitting for Jesus to be buried like a king because He has endured as our King to save us from the penalty of sin.  Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus of Nazareth endured the cross for the joy of accomplishing the goal of salvation for mankind.

I read Isaiah 53:9 as an amplification of the truth spelt out in 2 Corinthians 5:21.  Although Jesus of Nazareth was treated as a sinner, He actually did no sin and hence did not deserve a criminal’s grave.  On the cross, Jesus of Nazareth carried all our sins and became sin.  Judgment and punishment were meted out on Him to the fullest extent of the divine judicial demands.  Every consequence of Adam’s disobedience as well as ours fell on Christ crucified! His dignified burial served to underscore the truth that the beloved Son of God in the flesh as Jesus of Nazareth was the Innocent Who died for the guilty.

The crux of the verse in view here is:

“Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb”.