John 19:39

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. AND THERE CAME ALSO NICODEMUS, (WHICH AT THE FIRST CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT). It is manifestly the Evangelist's design to direct his readers' attention to the timidity of both these friends of Jesus in their attachment to Him, when he says that the one was for fear of the Jews only a secret disciple, and reminds us that the visit of the other to Jesus at the outset of His ministry was made by night. AND BROUGHT A MIXTURE OF MYRRH AND ALOES, ABOUT AN HUNDRED POUND WEIGHT - an immense quantity, betokening the greatness of their love, but part of it probably intended, as Meyer says, as a layer for the spot on which the body was to lie. (See .)...

38-42 Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Christ in secret. Disciples should openly own themselves; yet some, who in lesser trials have been fearful, in greater have been courageous. When God has work to do, he can find out such as are proper to do it. The embalming was done by Nicodemus, a secret friend to Christ, though not his constant follower. That grace which at first is like a bruised reed, may afterward resemble a strong cedar. Hereby these two rich men showed the value they had for Christ's person and doctrine, and that it was not lessened by the reproach of the cross. We must do our duty as the present day and opportunity are, and leave it to God to fulfil his promises in his own way and his own time. The grave of Jesus was appointed with the wicked, as was the case of those who suffered as criminals; but he was with the rich in his death, as prophesied, Isaiah 53:9; these t...

Verse 39. _NICODEMUS_] John 3:1, c. _MYRRH AND ALOES_] Which drugs were used to preserve bodies from putrefaction. _Calmet_ says that the aloes mentioned here is a liquor which runs from an aromatic tree, and is widely different from that called _aloes_ among us. Some have objected that a hundred pounds' weight of myrrh and aloes was enough to embalm two hundred dead bodies and instead of εκατον, _a hundred_, some critics have proposed to read εκατερων - _a mixture of myrrh and aloes, of about a pound EACH_. See _Bowyer's_ Conjectures. But it may be observed that _great quantities_ of spices were used for embalming dead bodies, when they intended to show peculiar marks of respect to the deceased. A great quantity was used at the funeral of _Aristobulus_; and it is said that five hundred servants bearing aromatics at

See the notes at Matthew 27:57....

EXPOSITION JOHN 19:1 (d) [Within the Praetorium.] The unjust scourging, and the crown of thorns. JOHN 19:1 Then PILATE THEREFORE TOOK JESUS, AND SCOURGED HIM. The force of the "therefore" may be seen in the foregoing observations (see especially Luke 23:23). He obviously fancied that the sight of their victim's utter humiliation, his reduction to the lowest possible position, would sate their burning rage. Scourging was the ordinary preliminary of crucifixion, and it might be regarded as Pilate's verdict, or the conclusion of the whole matter. Roman and Greek historians confirm the custom (Josephus, 'Ant.,'...

AND THERE CAME ALSO NICODEMUS,.... To the cross, at the same time as Joseph did; who, whether they were brethren, as some conjecture, and met here by consent, since one prepared one thing, and another, for the interment of Christ, is not certain. This Nicodemus is thought to be the same with Nicodemus ben Gorion, the Talmudists speaks of, who, they say u, was one of the three rich men in Jerusalem; as this appears to be a rich man, from the large quantity of myrrh and aloes he brought with him, and which must be very costly. Moreover, they say w, that he had another name, which was Boni; and they themselves observe x, that Boni was one of the disciples of Jesus, as this Nicodemus was, though a secret one, as Joseph: this is he WHICH AT THE FIRST CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT; who, when Christ first entered on his ministry, or when he first came unto him, came to him by night to discourse with...

John 19:38. _And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus._ Oh, how tenderly, and with how many tears, did they take their Lord's body from the cross! John 19:40. And wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews'

JOHN 19:39 mi,gma {B} Although e[ligma (a* B W copboms), being the more difficult reading (the word normally means “a fold, a wrapping,” and not “a roll, a package,” which would be required here), might seem to be preferable as explaining the rise of the other readings, a majority of the Committee was impressed by the earlier and more diversified testimony supporting mi,gma (î66vid ac A Dsupp K L X D Q P 054 ¦1 ¦13 28 33 565 700 _Byz Lect_). Whether...

CHAPTER 19 _ 1. Behold the Man! (John 19:1 .)_ 2. The Last Question of Pilate and Christ's Last Word. (John 19:8 .) 3. Delivered up and Crucified. (John 19:12 .) 4. The Title upon the Cross. (John 19:19 .) 5. The Parted Garments. (John 19:23 .) 6. Behold Thy Son! Behold Thy Mother! (John 19:25 .) 7. It is Finished! (John 19:28 .) 8. His Legs not B

THE LANCE-THRUST AND THE BURIAL. It has been said that these verses contain parts of two accounts of burial, by the Jews, and by Joseph. In reality the Jews only demand that the law of Deuteronomy 21:23, applicable to any day, should not be broken, especially considering the sanctity of the morrow, which was both a Sabbath and the great day of the Feast. The breaking of the legs was often allowed, as an act of mercy to the sufferers. In the Gospel of Peter the Jews object to it, in order that Jesus'suffering may not be shortened. As a means of ensuring death the lance-thrust is perfectly natural, and results which might easily be described by an actual witness in the terms of John 19:34 are not physiologically impossible (Exp., May 1916). Again it is easier to suppose that facts have caused the discove