Thomas Aquinas Commentary John 19:38-42

"And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took away his body. And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. There then because of the Jews` Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus." — John 19:38-42 (ASV)

1. After the Evangelist has told us about the crucifixion and death of Christ, he now turns to His burial, covering the following points:

   • First, the permission for His burial.
   • Second, the care in preparing His body: they took the body of Jesus.
   • Third, the place where Christ was buried: now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre.
   • And finally, the burial itself: therefore... they laid Jesus there.

2. The Evangelist says, after these things—that is, the passion and death of Jesus—Joseph of Arimathea (the same city as Ramah, see 1 Samuel 1:1), because he was a disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph was not one of the twelve, but one of the many other believers, for at first all who believed were called disciples. He was a disciple, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, as many others were before Christ’s passion: many of the chief men also believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, that they might not be cast out of the synagogue (John 12:42). We can see from this that while the other disciples lost their confidence and went into hiding after the passion, this man gained confidence and openly tended to Jesus.

   This man asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, meaning to take the body from the cross and bury it. He did this because human laws required permission to bury the bodies of those who had been condemned. And Pilate gave him permission, because Joseph was an important person known to Pilate; Mark refers to Joseph as a respected member of the council (Mark 15:43).

3. Regarding the second point—the care in preparing the body—the Evangelist says, he came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. Here we see Joseph’s concern to prepare the body, which involves two aspects:

   • First, the things used in the preparation.
   • Second, the preparation itself: they took the body of Jesus.

4. The body of Jesus was prepared with a mixture of myrrh and aloes, which Nicodemus had purchased in a large quantity. The Evangelist therefore mentions both of them: Joseph, who claimed the body, and Nicodemus, who brought the spices.

   This is the same Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night before the passion (John 3:2). The Evangelist commemorates Nicodemus here to show that even though he had been a secret disciple, he now became a public one—just as he had mentioned Joseph was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews. But Nicodemus did not yet have true faith in the resurrection, because he brought myrrh and aloes, thinking that the body of Christ would soon corrupt without them—yet the Scripture says, you will not give your holy one to corruption (Psalms 16:10).

   As for the mystical sense, we understand from this that we should bury the crucified Christ in our hearts with the sadness of contrition and compassion: my hands dripped with myrrh (Song of Solomon 5:5).

5. With the spices ready, they prepared the body of Jesus: they took the body of Jesus.

   A question arises here, for John says that they bound it in linen cloths, while Matthew says that they wrapped it in a single linen cloth (Matthew 27:59).

   One can answer, according to Augustine, that Matthew speaks of one linen cloth because he mentioned only Joseph, who brought that one cloth. John, however, also mentions Nicodemus, and so he says linen cloths because Nicodemus brought another cloth.

   Alternatively, the body of Christ was also wrapped in winding bands, as we read in the case of Lazarus, because this was the custom for Jewish burials. A small cloth was also placed over His head. John includes all of these when he uses the words linen cloths.

   From the fact that they anointed the body of Jesus with spices, we are taught that in performing such humane duties, we should follow the customs of each country.

6. The place where Christ was buried is then mentioned: now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden. Christ was arrested in a garden, underwent His agony in a garden, and was buried in a garden. This indicates to us that by the power of Christ’s passion we are freed from the sin Adam committed in the garden of delights, and that through Christ the Church—which is itself like a garden enclosed—is made holy.

   The text continues: And in the garden a new sepulchre, in which no man had yet been laid. There are two reasons why Christ chose to be buried in a new tomb. The first is a literal one: to ensure that no one could think that some other body buried there had risen instead of Christ, or that all bodies had equal power to rise.

   The second reason is that it was fitting for Him who was born of a virgin to be buried in a new tomb. Just as no one was in Mary’s womb before or after Him, so it was with this tomb. This also indicates to us that by faith, Christ is hidden in the newborn soul: that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17).

7. Finally, the burial itself is described. So, because of the Preparation of the Jews... they laid Jesus and placed Him in the tomb.

   The reason for the haste is explained: Because the sepulchre, the new tomb, was close at hand, they laid Jesus there, because of the Preparation of the Jews. Christ died around the ninth hour, but because His body had to be prepared for burial and other things had to be done, evening had arrived. Therefore, because the sepulchre was close at hand to the place where He was crucified, they laid Jesus there.