The Harmony of the Gospels, Chapter 15
CAP. XV.
Of the admirable works of God which accompanied the Death of Jeſus & his reverent burial, and of his ſufferings after he was dead & buried
If the Reader pleaſe to turn to, and read theſe Texts of Scripture, he ſhall find many admirable works of God, that accompanied the death of Jeſus Chriſt.
Math 27.51. ad finem.
Mark 15.38. ad finem.
Luke 23.47. ad finem.
John 19.31. ad finem.
The admirable works of God that accompanied the Death of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, are theſe,
1. An Earthquake, mentioned only by Mathew.
2. The Vail of the Temple rent from top to bottome. Math. Mark.
3. The rocks rent. Math.
4. The Graves, viz. that were in the rocks, broken open; many Bodyes of Saints which ſlept, aroſe and came out of the graves after the reſurrection of Chriſt, and went into the holy city and appeared to many. Math.
5. The Sun brightned ſuddenly at the ninth hour, about the time when Ieſus Chriſt dyed. Math. Mar. Luk.
6. The death of Jeſus Chriſt being ſooner then Pilate and the Jews looked for, and afore the Theeves, it prevented that part of the Romiſh and Jewiſh cruelty, which was intended, in breaking his legs: yet they pierced his ſide with a ſpear, and there came forth bloud and water. Ioh. 19.31. ad 38.
7. The Centurion that had charge of the watch that day, was converted. Mat. Mar. Luke.
8. Many more of thoſe upon the Watch, and of the Spectators, were convinced, if not converted. Math. Luke.
1. Touching the Earthquake; God hath made two great changes of Eccleſiaſtical Polity, ſince the beginning of the world, and both of them have been expreſly accompanied with Earthquakes. When the Lord laid by the ancient Paternal Goverment, and erected the Polity of Moſes, in the national Church of Iſrael, God appeared with terrible Earthquakes. Exod. 19.
And now the Lord being about to lay aſide the Moſaical Polity, and erect the Goſpel Polity of the Eccleſiaſtical Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt, it is accompanied with Earthquakes.
2. The vail of the Temple was rent from top to bottom, probably it was effected by he Earthquake, and the accompliſhment of the Propheſy which the Apoſtle maketh mention of, Heb. 12.26, 27, 28, 29. whoſe voice then ſhook the Earth, but now he …ath promiſed ſaying, yet once more I ſhake not Earth only, but alſo Heaven. And this word yet once more, ſignifyeth the removing of thoſe things that are ſhaken, as of things …hat are made, that thoſe things which cannot be ſhaken, may remain, &c. The Prophecy which the Apoſtle quoteth is Hag. 2.6, 7. which is eminently fulfilled by God, lay…ng aſide the Tabernacle and Temple worſhip, which were the works of mens …ands, by the Commandment of the Lord, and in their ſtead inſtituting the Souls of believers to be his Temple, and his viſible Church to be built of ſuch materials, who are living ſtones laid and built upon the Rock of Ages, even Jeſus Chriſt, by …ith, and in the Communion of ſuch a ſpiritual Temple, hath the Lord erected …is Goſpel polity. By this rending of the Vail, Chriſt hath opened Heaven for …ll that will come unto him, Gentiles as well as Jews, Eph. 2.14. he is our peace, …ho hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of Partition between us, …iz. the wall of Partition between the Court of Gentiles and of the Jews. The …poſtle probably would not ſay, he hath rent the vail, becauſe he would not pro…oke the Jews, but it is the ſame thing that he here ſpeaketh.
3. The Rocks rent
4. the graves were opened.
Theſe works of God do aſcribe unto Chriſt the power of the Reſurrection, and the removing …l impediments either of his own Reſurrection, or of the Reſurrection of all mankind Joh. 5.25, 28, 29. verily, verily, the hour is coming, and now is, that the dead ſhall …ear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear ſhall live, ver. 28. marvail not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves ſhall hear his voice, and ſhall come forth, they that have done good, unto the Reſurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the Reſurrection of damnation.
5. The Sun did ſuddenly, perceptibly brighten about the ninth hour, which was the time of the death of our Lord Jeſus; which manifeſteth, that this darkneſs was not an effect of any natural cauſes, but of the divine power of God. And tendeth much to the confirmation of the apprehenſion of ſuch Reverend Divines, as think, that the darkening of the Sun, was a ſign of Gods hiding his face from Jeſus Chriſt in his ſpiritual deſertion, through his Agony upon the Croſs, which Agony being finiſhed, the Sun brightned, and Gods face of favourable acceptation turned unto him, and then he breathed out his Soul into his Fathers boſome.
6. The timous and ſpeedy death of Jeſus, by the wonderful and merciful providence of God prevented that Roman and Jewiſh cruelty in breaking his legs. That he dyed ſooner then they looked for, or then malefactors were wont to dy, or then the Theevs did, appeareth evidently, becauſe Pilate marvailed, and would not believe Ioſeph, who begged his dead body, until he called the Centurion that had charge of the watch, and he affirmed that he was dead. We ſee that the Romans uſed cruelty in putting malefactors to death by long tortures, Math. 18.34. executors are called tormentors, and when they deſire to diſpatch them, they broke their legs, to torture them to death, by torturing their Limbs furtheſt from their heart, when as a touch upon the head, would preſently finiſh their life, but Chriſt eſcaped this, by a divine hand.
The occaſion that moved Pilate to command, that they ſhould be ſo killed, and haſtned to their death, was, the Jews requeſt that their legs might be broken, the reaſon which they propoſed was, becauſe of the approach of the Sabbath, and it was the time of their Paſsover feaſt.
God commanded in the inſtitution of the Paſsover, that a bone thereof ſhould not be broken, Exod. 12.46. Numb. 9.12. which the Iews religiouſly obſerved in a…l ages & generations, but never knew the reaſon of this branch of the divine Inſtitution. The infinite preſcience of God had reſpect unto this hiſtory of the ſufferings of Chriſt, which we are now treating off. Theſe Iews poſſibly might ſee the reaſon of this branch of this Inſtitution; I dare not ſay they did ſee it becauſe the Text doth not ſay ſo. But if they had any ſuch intent to get his legs broke to blemiſh him, who is the true Paſchal Lamb? Then I ſay
1. Their wickedneſs was the greater, becauſe it was againſt light.
2. The infinite wiſe and merciful providence of God, is ſo much the more to be adored and admired in their diſappointment.
3. The diſappointing and preventing of the breaking of his bones, is a mighty ſtriving of God to convince the Iews that Ieſus is the Paſchal Lamb.
4. The fulfilling of the Scriptures in preſerving his bones from being broken, is a powerful confirmation of the ſaith of the Church to the Worlds end, that Ieſus Chriſt is our Paſchal Lamb, in whom we believe for ſalvation. When the Souldiers came to break their legs, and did break the legs of the two Theevs, Ieſus Chriſt being already dead, they did not break his legs, yet one of them, without cauſe, neither knowing nor caring what he did, only to inſult over his dead body, took a Spear, and pierced his left ſide. It appeareth to be ſo, by that which iſſued out of the wounds viz. blood from the wound in his fleſh, and water out of the pericardium, which he pierced with his Spear, here we are to admire the all-ruling wiſdome of God, who by this act hath provided a wonderful confirmation of the faith of the Church, that both our Sacraments are founded in the death of Chriſt, the water in Baptiſme, and blood celebrated in the Supper, confirm the faith of the Church to the worlds end, 1 Joh. 5.6, 8. Again, by this act they did in part fulfil that Propheſy, Zech. 12.10. they pierced his ſide, O Lord Jeſus make haſte to accompliſh the other part of this gracious Propheſy, which ſaith, 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 firſt born. In that day there ſhall be a great mourning in Jeruſalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo, &c.
7. Another memorable work of God that attended the death of Jeſus Chriſt, was the converſion of the Centurion, who had the charge of the watch that day, where ſee, firſt, The means of his converſion, viz. the dying words of Jeſus, the Earthquake, and other things, as the darkening of the Sun, and the brightning of the ſame, the rending of the Rocks, &c.
2. We ſee the ſigns of his converſion, 1. He feared greatly. 2. He made confeſſion of his faith, firſt, in the Deity of Chriſt, ſurely he is the Son of God, 2dly, in the innocency and juſtneſs of his perſon, Surely he was a juſt man.
8. Many more of thoſe upon the watch, and of the ſpectators were convinced, if not converted, when they ſaw what was done, they returned, ſmiting on their breaſts.
Sect. 2.
Of the Reverent Buryal of the Body of our Lord Jeſus.
THe buryal of Ieſus Chriſt is a great point in Religion, both in the Propheſy, and in the Hiſtory, and in the application. In the Hiſtory of this act of Chriſtian love, ſee firſt the perſons that did with due reverence perform this ſervice to the dead body of our Lord. Joſeph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, they would not leave his bleſſed Corps to the rude diſpoſal and uſage of Hangmen, and Executioners. But with their own hands they did reverently lay him into a Tomb. Theſe two men were honourable men, for they were both of them of the Council, but conſented not with them in their condemning of Jeſus, Luk. 23.51. the ſame did not conſent to the Council, and deed of them, it is like that neither Joſeph nor Nicodemus were ſent unto, or called unto their Clandeſtine night Court, wherein Jeſus was condemned, they knew that they would oppoſe, they had experience of Nicodemus his oppoſing them; how many more of the Council might be abſent from that night Court, is not ſaid, it is like that it was carryed on by a Faction, that adhered to that violent young man Caiaphas, and his Father in law Annas. For in the Hiſtory we find all the Council preſent, to be of one mind, therefore neither of theſe two worthy men were with them. Theſe were both holy men, and true Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, yet formerly they both of them had been timorous profeſſors, Joh. 19.38, 39. Joſeph a Diſciple of Jeſus Chriſt, but ſecretly for fear of the Jews. And Nicodemus who at firſt came to Jeſus by night, ſee a little what the Scripture ſaith of theſe, firſt of Nicodemus, John. 3.1, 2, 3. &c. he came to Jeſus by night, he was a well minded man, but weak in knowledge, Joh. 7.51, 52, 53. Nicodemus ſaith unto them, (he that came to Jeſus by night being one of them) doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doth? they anſwered and ſaid unto him, art thou alſo of Galilee? ſearch and look, for out of Galilee ariſeth no Prophet, and eueryevery man went into his own houſe. Here we ſee Nicodemus was grown more valiant, and appeared openly in the Council, on the behalf of Jeſus Chriſt, and though he ſuffered a ch…ck for his labour, yet what he ſaid, ſaved the cauſe of Jeſus Chriſt for that time. And now when Jeſus Chriſt was perſecuted to the death, and crucified, his courage ſtill aroſe, and his love abounded, for he joyned with good Joſeph, and brought an hundred pound weight of Myrrhe and Aloes, for the embalming of the Corps.
Joſeph was a very eminent, holy, and good man, all the Evangeliſts do inlarge in his commendation, and though he had been (as John ſaith) timorous, yet now he taketh boldneſs, Mark. 14.43. and ſo did Nicodemus: if the Reader pleaſe to turn to theſe Texts, he ſhall ſee how amply the holy Ghoſt hath ſpoken of Joſeph, Math. 27.57, ad 61. Mark. 15.43, ad 47. Luk. 23.50, ad 54. Joh. 19.38.
Pilate granted to Joſeph at his requeſt the dead body of Jeſus Chriſt, theſe two honourable men took it down from the Croſs, they prepared a fine linnen burying Sheet, newly bought for this purpoſe, they wrapped up the body with the aromaticks in decent manner, carefully laying Aromaticks upon all his wounds, in hands, feet, ſide, back, head, or elſe where. They carryed the body into a garden hard by, which was Joſephs, where was a new Sepulchre, hewen out of a Rock, which Joſeph had prepared for his own buryal, in which never yet had any man been buryed; there they did at preſent lay up the body, the approaching of the Sabbath permitting them to do no more: they rowled a great ſtone to the dore of the Vault, which ſhut it cloſe up. And ſo they departed.
Lo here we find the dead body of Jeſus Chriſt ſeparated from his Soul, laid up among thoſe that are gone down to the pit, under the power of death, and the grave, in the very bottom of his humiliation.
His Soul was in his Fathers boſome, in Paradice, far out of the reach of the Enemy, though in a ſuffering condition, becauſe in a ſtate of ſeperation from his body, there was he pleading and interceding for the Church. The good women obſerved diligently where he was buryed, purpoſing after the Sabbath to perfect his embalming, for which purpoſe they brought and prepared ſweet Spices, Luk. 2….56. and 24.1. Mark. 16.1.
Surely they meant to have emboweled the Corps, and to have filled the body with ſweet Spices, &c. for ſo was the manner of embalming of dead bodyes; they did not underſtand nor believe, nor expect his Reſurrection, though he had often foretold it.
But here behold the wonderful Providence of God, for ever to be admired, that by reaſon of the ſhortneſs of the time to the beginning of the Sabbath, which prohibited them from doing any more at preſent, unto the body, and the interpoſition of the Sabbath, prevented them all that day. But they intended after the Sabbath to have perfected his embalming, for which purpoſe the godly women came very early, and brought their Spices. And when they came there, he was riſen before they came.
Here alſo we may behold and admire at the power of the Croſs of Chriſt, according to that word of Ioh. 12.32. and I when I am lifted up will draw all men unto me, one would have thought in reaſon that theſe timorous noble Profeſſors would now have been more timorous then ever they had been; But behold the contrary, for now they are more bold then ever they were. Again, one in reaſon would have thought that the Centurion and all that were on the guard with him, and all the ſpectators would now have no regard or good perſwaſion towards Jeſus Chriſt whom they had conquered and kiſſed, But behold the contrary, the ſovereign grace of Jeſus Chriſt, is poured forth from the Croſs, and draweth hearts to believe, and this power of grace is exerciſed by the ſweet ſavour of the Croſs of Chriſt, unto this day, yea, and will be ſo to the worlds end.
Sect. 3.
The ſufferings of Chriſt after he was dead and buryed.
AS the firſt part of the ſufferings of Chriſt was before he was born, ſo the laſt part of his ſufferings was after he was dead and buryed, he lay in the grave, as Jonas in the whales belly, in a ſuffering condition until his Reſurrection. After the Incarnation and birth of Jeſus Chriſt, the whole conſpiracy of Devils and wicked men was, to kill him and to conquer him by death: to remove him out of their way, after they had conquered and killed him by death, all their conſpiracy was to keep him dead, to ſeal him up in his grave, that he ſhould not riſe again, we may ſee what the Jews (by Satans inſtigation no doubt) did this way, Math. 27.62, ad 67. where ſee the time of this act, the morning after the preparation, or celebration of the Paſsover, which was upon the very Sabbath day, yea, though it was an high day, Ioh. 19.31. being the morrow after the Paſsover. They pretended to be very zealous for the Sabbrth, to pick up matter againſt Chriſt, when he did good works of charity upon the Sabbath day. But now they can go to Pilate and tranſact their envyous buſineſs againſt Chriſt upon this high Sabbath day. The actors of this buſineſs were the chief Prieſts and Phariſ…es, who pretended to be moſt zealous for the Sabbath, but here we may ſee their hypocriſy. What did they upon this Sabbath? they came to Pilate, and firſt ſee the term they give to Chriſt, that deceiver or impoſtor, we ſee here that his blood and death could not quench their rancor of heart againſt him. They inform Pilate that he had ſaid that he would riſe again the third day, which they deſired to prevent, uſing this Argument to perſwade Pilate to aſſiſt them, leaſt his Diſciples ſhould come in the night and ſteal away his body, and then tell the people that he was riſen again, according as he hath ſaid he would do. And the Effect of that would be worſt of all, our laſt error would be worſe then the firſt, if we let him riſe again, it will make us more odious to the people, then our putting him to death hath done.
Pilate impowereth them to make his grave as faſt and ſure as they can, or deſire to do, by a watch, or any other means. Whereupon they went upon the ſame Sabbath day, they ſet a watch (ſtrong enough you may be ſure) at the grave, and ſealed up the great ſtone that lay upon the graves mouth, and now let him riſe if he can.
But herein we may behold the admirable wiſdome of God, and folly of man, that the very way which they took to prevent his Reſurrection, was a means to make his Reſurrection moſt evident and manifeſt unto all; the Watchmen were witneſſes of it. Though they did afterwards corrupt them with large money to make a fooliſh lye, which is current among the Jews unto this day; and hereby their laſt error is indeed as bad, if not worſe then the firſt.
When Jeſus Chriſt breathed out his bleſſed Soul into his Fathers boſome, it wa… in a ſtate of ſeparation from his body, and that was a ſtate of ſuffering. He went into Heaven, into Paradice, into his Fathers boſome, in a ſeperate, in a ſuffering Eſtate. O how welcome was that bleſſed ſuffering Soul, hypoſtatically united to the Deity, when he came in Heaven! This bleſſed Soul was not long in this ſeperate ſtate, about forty hours, though part of three dayes and three nights. God ſuffered not his holy body, hypoſtatically united to the Deity▪ that lay dead in the grave to ſee the leaſt touch of corruption. Yet hereby he ſanctified this ſeperate ſtate of the Soul from the body unto, and for his Elect, whoſe bodyes do ſee corruption, and whoſe duration and abiding in that ſeperat… eſtate, is of a far longer continuance, even until the day of Reſurrection, and laſt Judgement. But Jeſus Chriſt hath made it to be unto us an entrance into glory.
The Soul of Jeſus Chriſt preſented himſelf before the holy Tribunal of divine Juſtice, where he pleaded his full ſatisfaction that he had made unto all the demands of the holy Law, both by his active and paſſive obedience. He ſaith, I have fulfilled all Righteouſneſs, I have ſuffered and finiſhed the ſufferings of the puniſhment of loſs. I have ſuffered the puniſhment of ſenſe unto the uttermoſt, ever until it forced a ſeparation betwixt my body and Soul, and brought me into the ſtate of death; and behold here I ſtand before the Tribunal of Juſtice, in a ſtate of ſeperation of Soul from my body: and thus have I anſwered the Law, and finiſhed the work of Redemption. I have purchaſed a pardon, I have purchaſed the Inheritance, the Kingdome; that by the right hand of divine power I may gather in all Gods Elect, whoſe ſalvation I have undertaken, that I may manage the world for the glory of God, and that I may ſubdue all their Enemies. And now O Father glorifie me with thy ſelf, and theſe thine Elect with me for my ſake, that they may behold my glory, for which I appeal unto mercy. Likewiſe alſo our appearance in Heaven when we dye, muſt be before the Tribunal of Juſtice, but we appear in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, we are converted, united unto him, we are members of his myſtical body, cloathed with his Righteouſneſs, and for his ſake we are accepted, pardoned, and welcomed to glory, ſo far as we are capable in that ſeperate eſtate. And for this we appeal unto mercy.
Now Jeſus Chriſt took out a pardon; now he took poſſeſſion of his purchaſed Inheritance according to the capacity of his ſeperate eſtate. Now he took the keys of hell and death, now was he ready to tread down all Enemies, Hell, Devil, Sin, Death, and Grave, by his triumphant Reſurrection. But theſe meditations do appertain unto the Exaltation of Jeſus Chriſt, him God hath exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give Repentance to Iſrael and forgiveneſs of ſins, Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Eliot, The Harmony of the Gospels (1678)