ACC ~ John 19 v38

JESUS AND MOSES

JUSTIN MARTYR: For, it was not without design that the prophet Moses, when Hur and Aaron upheld his hands, remained in this form until evening. For, indeed, the Lord remained upon the tree almost until evening, and they buried him that evening. Then on the third day he rose again. DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO 97. [1]

[1] ANF 1:247**.

JOSEPH REWARDED FOR HIS PIETY

TERTULLIAN: Surely Joseph knew that what he handled with full respect [1] was a body. This is that Joseph who had not consented with the Jews in their crime, the blessed man who did not enter the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners, nor did he sit in the seat of mockers. [2] It was right for him who buried the Lord to have been a subject of prophecy and now to be deservedly blessed. AGAINST MARCION 4.42-43. [3]

[1] Or, piety.

[2] Ps 1:1.

[3] ANF 3:421**.

JOSEPH IDEALLY SUITED TO BURY JESUS

BEDE: It was providentially ordered that he should be rich, in order that he might have access to the governor, and righteous, in order that he might merit the charge of our Lord’s body. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 4.15. [1]

[1] CCL 120:637-38.

BODY LANGUAGE

THEODORET OF CYR: Observe how often mention is made of the body. See how often the Evangelist shows that it was the body that was nailed to the cross, the body begged by Joseph of Pilate, the body taken down from the tree, the body wrapped in linen clothes with the myrrh and aloes, and then the name of the person given to it. And Jesus is said to have been laid in a tomb. Thus the angel said, “Come see the place where the Lord lay,” [1] naming the part by the name of the whole. And we constantly do just the same. In this place, we say, such a person was buried; not the body of such a person. Every one in his senses knows that we are speaking of the body, and such a mode of speech is customary in divine Scripture. DIALOGUE 2. [2]

[1] Mt 28:6.

[2] NPNF 2 3:227**.

Jn