The Gospel gives us the following description of the burial of Jesus: "When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a CLEAN SHROUD and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. " (Matthew, 27:57-59)

As soon as our Lord had died, all the concern of His disciples was to take care of the burial. It should have been the concern of His mother, Mary, but she was a pilgrim at Jerusalem and, most likely, had no means to bury her Son. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, both members of the Sanhedrin, offered themselves to help. Joseph obtained official permission for the burial, purchased a NEW (CLEAN) SHROUD, and offered the use of his personal new tomb.

"Nicodemus came as well and he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, following the Jewish custom. At the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in this garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been buried. Since it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was near at hand, they laid Jesus there. " (John 19:38-42) 'Meanwhile the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus were following behind. They took note of the tomb and the position of the body. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath day they rested, as the Law required. " (Luke 23:55-56)

Why a "clean Shroud?' According to the Jewish regulations all criminals executed on the cross, could receive a burial, but because a criminal was reputed to be a public sinner, as a sign of social disgrace, the shroud was not to be "clean." The word "clean" does not mean clean from the laundry, but religiously clean or not contaminated by the use or touch of legal impurities. The same rule applied to the tomb: it could not be "clean," that is it must have been rendered unclean by the burial of another person. St. John in relating this particular about the new tomb is telling us that Jesus received an honorable burial with the help of two members of the Sanhedrin (members of the parliament). Both Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus knew the law, but, because Christ had been crucified according to the Roman law, they buried Christ according to the Roman law which did not specify anything about the burial of criminals.

It was late Friday afternoon. By sunset any devout Jew would begin the religious rest of the Sabbath. So there was no time for a ritualistic burial; Our Lord received a temporary burial. They placed half of the Shroud on a slab of stone, the body of Christ was laid on it and covered with the second half of the Shroud. They all went home with the intention of coming back after the Passover (the Sabbath).