The Grave of Jesus ^(A)

⁴² It was the day to get ready for the Day of Rest and it was now evening. ⁴³ Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was an important man in the court. He was looking for the holy nation of God. Without being afraid, he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised and wondered if Jesus was dead so soon. He called the captain of the soldiers and asked if Jesus was already dead.

⁴⁵ After the captain said that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph take the body. ⁴⁶ Joseph took the body of Jesus down from the cross. He put the linen cloth he had bought around the body. Then he laid the body in a grave which had been cut out in the side of a rock. He pushed a stone over to cover the door of the grave. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.

The Grave of Jesus ^(A)

⁵⁰ There was a man named Joseph who belonged to the court. He was a good man and one who did right. ⁵¹ This man did not agree with what the court did. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews. He was looking for the holy nation of God to come. ⁵² Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

⁵³ Then he took it down and put it in linen cloth. It was laid in a grave which had been cut out in the side of a rock. This grave had never been used.

⁵⁴ It was time to get ready for the Day of Rest which was about to begin. ⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed behind. They saw the grave and how His body was laid. ⁵⁶ They went back and got some spices and perfumes ready. But they rested on the Day of Rest as the Law said to do.

The Grave of Jesus ^(A)

³⁸ Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus but was afraid of the Jews. So he worshiped without anyone knowing it. He asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Pilate said he could. Then Joseph came and took it away. ³⁹ Nicodemus came also. The first time he had come to Jesus had been at night. He brought with him a large box of spices. ⁴⁰ Then they took the body of Jesus with the spices and put it in linen cloths. This was the way the Jews made a body ready for the grave.

⁴¹ There was a garden near the place where He had been nailed to the cross. In the garden there was a new grave in the side of the hill. No one had ever been laid there. ⁴² This place was near by. Because it was the day the Jews got ready for the special religious gathering, they laid Jesus in it.