And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Read Chapter 15
Bede
AD 735
What is called “parasceue” in Greek, is in Latin “praeparatio”; by which name those Jews, who lived amongst Greeks, used to call the sixth day of the week, because on that day they used to prepare what was necessary for the rest of the sabbath day. Because then manwas made on the sixth day, but on the seventh the Creator rested from all His work, fitly was our Saviour crucified on the sixth day, and thus fulfilled the mystery of man’s restoration. Therefore it is said, “An honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God.” He is called in Latin, “decurio”,because he is of the order of the “curia”, and served the office of aprovincial magistracy; this officer was also called “curial is”, from his care of civic duties. Arimathaea is the same as Ramathain, the city of Elkanah and Samuel.
But it was not an obscure person, nor a man of mean rank, who could come to the governor and obtain the body. There follows: “And he brought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him i...
After the Passion and Death of Christ, the Evangelist relates His burial, saying, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea.”
As the female sex through the Virgin Mary is not shut out from salvation, so it is not thrust away from the knowledge of the Mystery of the Cross, and of the Resurrection, through the widow Mary Magdalene, and the others, who were mothers.
It it interpreted, “taking down,” of which was Joseph, who came to take down the body of Christ from thecross.There follows: “Came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”.
By the burial of Christ werise again, by His going down into hell we mount up into heaven; here is found the honey in the mouth of the dead lion.
He was bold with apraiseworthy boldness; for he did not consider within himself, I shall fall from my rich estate, and I shall be expelled by the Jews, if I beg for the body of Him, who was condemned as a blasphemer. It goes on: “And Pilate marvelled if hewere already dead.” For he thought that He should continue long alive upon the cross, as also the thieves used to live long, upon the instrument of theirexecution.It goes on: “And calling unto him the centurion, he asked him if he had been any while dead;” that is, before the time when other executed persons usually died. There follows: “And when he knew it of the centurion, (that is, that He was dead,) he gave the body to Joseph.”.
Burying the precious body preciously; for being a disciple of our Lord, he knew how greatly the Lord's body ought to be honoured. Though it has also another meaning, that he who receives Jesus in a pure mind wraps Him in a clean linen. There follows: “And laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a roc...
