Prophecy 12

The Messiah was Buried with the Rich

Prophecy 12: The Messiah was Buried with the Rich

As it was written in the Tanakh (NIV & TLV),

Isaiah 53:9 “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”

Buried with the Rich

The Messiah died humiliated and was originally given a burial like that given to the wicked, but was eventually exalted and buried with the rich.

How did Messiah Jesus Fulfill this Prophecy?

Jesus was Buried in a New Tomb Belonging to a Rich Man

Matthew reminded us in the New Covenant of the Messianic prophecy mentioned in Isaiah 53:9 that “When he dies, he is buried with the rich man.”

Matthew 27:57-60 “⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Joseph was a prominent member of the Council (Mark 15:43) who opposed the plot to kill Jesus (Luke 23:51). He secretly became a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38). He was a rich man, so he had a new, unused tomb on the outskirts of the capitol (Matthew 27:60). As a disciple of Jesus, he wanted to show respect by giving Jesus a proper disposal of His body under the Jewish tradition. John 19:39–40 further proves Joseph’s noble and sincere heart, as the verses mention the use of extremely valuable spices.