The Kingly Burial
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Celebrating the Royal and Providential burial of the King of kings!
Text: Luke 23:50-54
Date: 03/01/2026, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 224
Description:
The final scene in Luke's Crucifixion narrative tells the story of how a man named Joseph of Arimathea procured the body of Christ and lovingly buried it in his own new tomb. We will carefully make our way through the language of this scene, adding to its richness with multiple descriptions from the other Gospels. Our focus will be on the radical difference between the abuse Jesus' body took before His death, and the honor and reverence given it afterwards. Joseph of Arimathea serves a Providential role in God's Redemptive Plan and helps fulfill the prophecies that Jesus' body will not see corruption-- in any form. We will make the point that Jesus' Father arranged a royal and actually extravagant burial for His precious Son, exalting Him as the King of kings. This Kingly burial begs the question from all people, believer and unbeliever alike, that if God the Father so clearly and Providentially honors and exalts the Crosswork of His Son-- Shouldn't You?
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I. Introduction, Matt. 2:11; Luke 23:28-30, 43; John 19:30; Heb. 6:19-20, 7:27.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 23:50-54.
A. Context
1. Last week's parallels.
a. The mourning and ministering women.
i. The mourning women.
ii. The ministering women and acquaintances.
b. The fickle crowd disturbed.
i. The crowd seeking entertainment.
ii. The disturbed crowd seeking answers.
c. The criminal and the centurion.
i. The criminal's conversion.
ii. The centurion's conversion.
d. The central event.
2. This week's parallel.
a. The hateful Sanhedrin members, Luke 23:2,35,38.
b. The loving Sanhedrin member.
B. Burying the King of kings.
1. Introducing Joseph of Arimathea, vs. 50-51.
a. The pressing issue of time.
i. The nature of the pressure, Mark 15:42; John 19:33.
ii. The reasons for the pressure, John 19:31; Deut. 21:22-23.
b. Describing Joseph.
i. A man named "Joseph", Gen. 30:24.
ii. A man from Arimathea, Jer. 31:15.
iii. An important man, Mark 15:43.
iv. An extraordinary man.
1) Looking at the words, Acts 11:24; Luke 1:6.
2) An exclusive designation, Gen. 6:9; Job 1:1; Acts 10:1-2.
v. A man in the middle of God's Providence, Heb. 7:3.
vi. At odds with the Sanhedrin, Mark 14:64.
vii. Looking for the Messiah, Luke 2:25,28-32.
viii. Tapping the other Gospels, Matt. 27:57; John 12:42, 19:38.
ix. The "hidden" disciple, 1Kings 19:10,18.
2. A courageous move, vs. 52.
a. Asking for the body of Christ, Mark 9:48, 15:43; John 9:22, 20:19.
b. Pilate agrees, Matt. 27:58; Mark 15:44-45.
3. Details of the burial, vs. 53.
a. The idea of corruption, Psa. 16:10.
b. The Kingly burial.
i. A tender removal.
ii. The linen shroud, John 19:40.
iii. The kingly burial.
1) The arrival of Nicodemus, John 19:39.
2) Bringing myrrh and aloes.
3) A gift fit for a King, Matt. 2:11; Luke 7:37-38; John 12:3.
c. The tomb.
i. A Kingly tomb.
1) Describing the tomb; Matt. 27:60; John 20:5.
2) The "rolling stone", Matt. 27:60.
ii. The location of the tomb, John 19:42.
iii. The undefiled tomb.
1) Describing ancient tombs, Gen. 25:8.
2) Absolutely no corruption!
iv. Fulfilling prophecy, vs. 54.
1) Of David, Psa. 16:10.
2) Of Isaiah, Isa. 53:9.
3) Of Jesus Himself, Luke 11:29-32; Matt. 12:40.
v. Another Parallel; Luke 19:30,38.
4. Asking why.
III. Conclusion, Luke 2:11,14, 23:46; Rev. 5:11-14.
