786. JOH 19:41. THE GARDEN SEPULCHRE

Joh_19:41. The Garden Sepulchre

"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre wherein was man never yet laid."’97Joh_19:41.

The goldsmith is careful of the very dust of the precious metal on which he employs his care and skill. The holy word of God is far more precious than thousands of gold and silver. Every word of God is both pure and precious. Even the incidental passages of the scriptures would well repay our careful and serious meditation. Our text is a part of the evangelist’s account of the death and burial of the Saviour. Surely every word of such events deserves to be read with devout feelings and holy attention. There is nothing trifling in the history of the life and sufferings of the Son of God. But Jesus has now given up his life. He has uttered the last exclamation: he has surrendered his spirit into his Father’s hand; and now is fulfilled a remarkable prophecy,’97"He made his grave with the rich in his death." How unlikely was this. He was a poor man. He was despised and rejected of men. He died as a malefactor. Yet "he made his grave with, the rich." Two rich men, his secret disciples, were the instruments of this. One was the celebrated ruler, Nicodemus; he bought myrrh and aloes to give a kind of embalmment to the body of the Saviour. The other was Joseph of Arimathea; he begged the body, and laid it in his own tomb,’97"Now in this place," &c. Now we shall consider the text,

I. Literally, and see the instruction that it contains.

And,

II. We shall accommodate the passage as suggesting several subjects worthy of our serious reflection.

Let us look at the text literally, and I. See the instruction it contains. Several things are referred to in the account of the Redeemer’s burial. It was

1. A new sepulchre.

No corpse had ever been deposited there before. How fit to be the temporary residence of the Redeemer’s holy body. He neither saw nor mingled with corruption. Observe,

2. It was a private sepulchre.

Not one of the public cemeteries of the city; and for this he was indebted to the voluntary kindness of a friend. He seemed to own nothing in our world. When born he had to borrow his infantile residence from the cattle. He had no wealth,’97"The foxes," &c. He had not the tribute-money, &c. He had no grave for his remains. Who so poor?

3. It was a sepulchre in a rock.

In this way it was the more easily secured. Only one entrance. The stone rolled to the mouth and sealed, a small guard could easily protect it.

4. It was in a garden.

The body of man is of too dignified a character to be treated with contempt, even after the spirit has fled. It was usual for criminals to have ignominious interments, as harmonizing with their crimes and death. Rich individuals were particular about their family sepulchres. The crowded burial yards of our cities are utterly disgusting. Jesus was sepulchred in a garden, of all the places the most desirable for the resting of the body in hope of a resurrection to eternal life. We just remark that it was in a garden where sin entered our world. In a garden where Christ endured the inexplicable agony. And in a garden rest the remains of the Messiah, who by his death and resurrection opened the gates of the celestial paradise to all believers.

II. We shall accommodate the passage as suggesting several subjects worthy of our serious reflection.

1. The family is likened to a garden, and in that there is a sepulchre.

David refers to our children being as olive plants round about our tables. A very sweet and striking representation. The varied ages and dispositions resembling the numerous flowers and plants of the garden. Such a scene, when in the enjoyment of health and happiness, when visited with the genial rays of a smiling sun, and the refreshing dews of a benign Providence, is a delightful object of contemplation. But in this garden there is a sepulchre. How family ties are dissolved. How soon some bloom and die. Ezekiel is mourning for the death of his wife; Rachel, her children; others, their friends, &c. If so, then let us view them as mutable. Let the family altar be reared, and Christ’s presence solicited, who is the resurrection and the life.

2. The church of Christ is a garden, but there is a sepulchre in that. Here are the trees, of the Lord. Here are the verdant cedars, and flowers of holy loveliness. Here the Lord dwells in all his beautifying and fertilizing influences. But there is a sepulchre in this garden. "The prophets, do they live?" &c. Where are the worthies of the church? Where Christ’s saints? After serving God and their generation, they fell asleep by the will of God. Both these views of the church should excite to diligence and fervor. Jesus felt this, and said, "I must work while it is called today," &c.

3. We have two distinguished gardens where there are no sepulchres.

(1.) The Eden on earth.

Not a spot for death’s possession. Sin expelled man from that, and thrust him out into a wilderness of sorrow and death.

(2.) In the paradise above.

We read of the tree of life,’97rivers of life,’97region of life. No sin, therefore no death. No mourning in that family. No separations, &c. No bereavements in that heavenly church. Because Christ lives, we shall live also.

Application

1. Sin is the cause of all kinds of death. Body and soul.

2. Christ is the fountain of all life. Soul,’97body,’97eternity. Christ is the surety. He came to give the world life. "Life and immortality," &c.

3. Christ has hallowed the grave by his own presence. Thus he has sanctified every condition and circumstance of life. He has hallowed the periods of childhood and youth and maturity. Poverty, sufferings, death, and also the tomb. He has illumined the dreary sepulchre.

4. He was "but the temporary resident of the sepulchre. As it had been written, "On the third day," &c. He is the firstfruits of them who slept. If we die with him, we shall rise and live with him, &c. Faith in him removes the sting of death, and gives victory over the grave.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS