Gospel: Of what importance to it is the burial of Christ?
The apostle Paul provides a clear statement about the content of our gospel message. Altogether this “gospel” is the best “news” that’s ever come to mankind.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was BURIED, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
This tells us that it was when He was crucified that He paid the full penalty that was due for all our sins.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Emphasis added]
It was in this manner that His love for all of us was clearly demonstrated.
Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth [SUNISTEMI = demonstrates], his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [Emphasis added]
This was Christ paying for our sins so that everyone would have the opportunity to be saved to end up in Heaven. It is very important to note that He did this for all mankind, not just some as it is sometimes falsely claimed.
John 1:29
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation [HILASMOS = expiation, full or satisfactory payment] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. [Emphasis added]
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made [at the point of our salvation] the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
To be made the righteousness of God is called justification. Anytime anyone decides to accept by faith this which Jesus Christ did for them, they are then delivered or saved from their state of condemnation.
Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [Emphasis added]
Even though it was stated in somewhat veiled terms, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the fulfillment of prophecy about this. Isaiah, David, and Zechariah wrote about it long before it occurred.
Isaiah 53:5-6
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [Emphasis added]
Psalm 22:1 was prophecy about the words He would speak on the cross.
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? [Emphasis added]
Zechariah 12:10
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. [Emphasis added]
These were prophesies about this that were given many centuries before these things occurred. It was the apostle Paul who was commissioned to give us clear details about exactly what was accomplished through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Again, 2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
The burial of Christ is to do with the fact that Jesus actually died. His body was put away in a sealed tomb. His burial confirms the reality of His death, fulfills prophecy, and foreshadows His resurrection. His death demonstrates that Jesus truly died for our sins and provides evidence that supports the truth of His bodily resurrection. Christ arose! This wasn’t just a resuscitation; it was a resurrection. You’ll find several articles with more details about all this on this website—
Resurrection & Resuscitation: What is the difference?
Resurrection: Did Jesus Christ rise from the dead?
Resurrection: Do even unbelievers have one?
Resurrection: Is there proof that Jesus Christ arose?
Resurrection: What will your resurrection body be like?
Resurrection: When will this occur for Old Testament believers?
There are many false theories claiming Christ didn’t really rise from the dead. The fact that He was buried with Roman guards stationed at the entrance to His tomb adds to the credibility of our message. He really did rise from His grave and was able to escape the tomb that couldn’t hold Him. We have a complete record of all this that happened.
Matthew 27:57-66
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
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 [ASPHALIZO = to make safe or 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 [ASPHALIZO = to make safe or sure] as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. [Emphasis added]
In other words, they did everything they knew to do to seal up his burial place. As it turned out, this tells us with absolute certainty that He was dead. A resurrection, something that had never happened before in all history, DID occur. There had been resuscitations before but NEVER a resurrection. His resurrection was the first and OURS will be next.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [accepting our gospel message], even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [Emphasis added]
Conclusion—
Therefore, when you’re presenting our gospel message, this part of it, Christ’s burial, is not to be left out. The burial of the body of Christ is a part of it. Doesn’t Scripture tell us that? Please take another look—
Again, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was BURIED, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
Again, isn’t the burial of Christ mentioned right along with these other factors? Aren’t ALL these factors said to be a part of our gospel message? Doesn’t the burial of Christ settle that matter about whether or not Jesus died? Aren’t there those who claim that he really didn’t die? Again, as given above, the burial of Christ is stated as an essential part of our gospel message. Someone may claim this is being somewhat legalistic about this matter, but where is there any evidence of that? Paul could have omitted this about Christ’s burial, but he did not. He states it right along with the other factors. Christ died for our sins, His body was buried in a grave, but HE AROSE after the third day. It is ALL this that is our glorious gospel message. Let’s give people all the data about it in our presentations of it.
