―The prophet here declares how the Messiah resigns himself to die, and be buried in their tomb.‖ (Japheth
ben Ali ha-Levi, c. 920 CE)
Y‟shua died a JewWhen Y‘shua was taken prisoner by a Roman captain, his cohort, and some Jewish officials (John 18:12),
He was delivered into the custody of the Jewish priests, elders, and scribes (Mark 14:53). The Roman
soldiers would not have placed Him under Jewish jurisdiction if He was not Jewish.
Later, Y‘shua was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council (Luke 22:66). He was charged with an
offense against Jewish Law (Matt 26:65-66, Lev 24:13-14, John 19:7). Pilate, head of the Roman
occupation, also recognised Jewish jurisdiction over Y‘shua (John 18:31). This was because Y‘shua was a
Jew (John 18:35).
He identified Himself unmistakably as the Messiah (Mark 14:61-62); and as we know, the Messiah must be
Jewish. He said He is the King of the Jews (Matt 27:11) as we have also seen above, and the King of the
Jews must Himself be Jewish according to the Torah. The Jewish crowd also called Him 'King of the Jews'
(Mark 15:12). He was mocked, spat on and beaten by Roman soldiers as ̳King of the Jews' (Mark 15:16-20);
and when they crucified Him, their charge was 'King of the Jews' (Matt 27:37).
The place of judgment had a Hebrew place-name called Gabbatha, meaning Stone Pavement (John 19:13);
and the place of crucifixion had a Hebrew place-name called Golgotha, or Place of a Skull (Mark 15:22).
Joseph of Arimethea, who took custody of Y‘shua's body, was Jewish (Luke 23:50-52); and he laid the body
in his own new tomb (Matt 27:59-60). Therefore, Y‘shua was buried in a Jewish cemetery. He was also
buried according to Jewish custom of the time (John 19:40). Without doubt, Y‘shua died a Jew.
27:62- 66 We remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again
―(62) Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came
together unto Pilate, (63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After
three days I will rise again. (64) Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day,
lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so
the last error shall be worse than the first. (65) Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it
as sure as ye can. (66) So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.‖
Numerous religious fears and political motives caused both the legalistic Pharisees and eventually the
Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to kill Y‘shua. And for these reasons seven ̳important security precautions‘
were taken to make sure Y‘shua remained dead and buried.
Security precaution # 1 – The complete trialY‘shua was brought for trial before a Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. All available evidence shows Pilate to
have been an extremely cruel and merciless despot. Philo reports that he had been responsible ―for
countless atrocities and numerous executions without any previous trial.‖
Security precaution # 2 – The death by crucifixionDeath by crucifixion developed into one of the world‘s most disgraceful and cruel methods of torture. Cicero
called it ̳the most cruel and hideous of tortures‘; even the Romans pitied the victims. Flavius Josephus, the
Jewish historian, wrote that when the Romans threatened to crucify one of the Jewish prisoners, the entire
machaerus garrison surrendered in order to obtain safe passage.
Security precaution # 3 – Solid rock precautionThe body of Y‘shua was then placed in a new tomb, hewn out of a solid rock in a private burial area. Jewish
tombs usually had an entrance 1m – 1.5m high. Most tombs of this period had a forecourt that led into a
burial chamber. A rectangular pit in the center of the burial chamber enabled one to stand upright. Around
the chamber were a number of loculi or couches upon which the body was placed, and often a raised section
served as a pillow.
Early sepulchers had a groove (or trough) cut into the rock in front of them to hold the stone which sealed
them. The trough was designed in such a way that it‘s lowest part lay immediately in front of the entrance.