Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.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 Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.And after these things Joseph of Arimathæa, 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.
3 sermons cite this verse
as I've been stating over and over again, it's not your only hope in the sense that there's nothing else, and I guess we've been reduced down to this final choice. The fact of the matter is, what's transpiring this day, this night in history, is our only hope of eternal life and salvation because of what was written, because of who Jesus Christ is and was and is again. The one who gave his life, who willingly gave his life, who the prophets foretold would do exactly that. You just read eyewitness accounts of events that are in complete correlation with those of the Roman Empire and their subsequent investigation of the crucifixion of Christ and how it was handled. This is something that transcends religion. The fact that Jesus Christ came into this world as the prophets foretold, but all with a mission. Jesus said regarding this day, for this reason came I into the world. It's absolutely awesome. And so as we look at these things very quickly, friends, with the time that we have together, I want you to consider seven things very quickly. …
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… This is exposing him to the rest of the Sanhedrin who now know of his allegiance to Jesus. And John 19.38 says that it was right after the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of the three, and the soldiers went to fulfill that request. Right after that, Joseph shows up and wants Pilate to give him the dead body. He asks for the body of Jesus. Well, Pilate hadn't even received a report about whether they were dead. So in verse 44, Pilate wondered if he was dead by this time. As I said, it usually took days. This was merely hours. And summoning the centurion, perhaps the very one who said, surely this was the Son of God, the one overseeing the crucifixion, and he questioned him as to whether he was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph." The affirmation of the centurion who was by profession an executioner, the affirmation of the soldiers who didn't break His legs all indicate that Jesus was dead. …