Matthew 27:59
“Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,”
What does Matthew 27:59 mean?
Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Jesus, stepped into a role no one else seemed willing to take at that moment. After Jesus died on the cross, the body needed to be prepared for burial according to Jewish custom, and Joseph used his own resources and status to do this with dignity and care. Wrapping the body in clean linen was a sign of respect and honor, the kind of treatment reserved for people of importance. In performing this act, Joseph was saying through his actions that Jesus was worth honoring, even after death, even when it meant public association with an executed criminal.