Deliverance from the Cross — Page 51
saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water' (John 19:31-34), After this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and though Pilate marvelled if Jesus were already dead: being satisfied on the point by the statement of the centurion' (Mark 15:44-45) 'readily gave his leave. 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, 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 sepulchre, wherein was never a man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand'. (John 19:38-42) In this closing scene, the plan of God: 'The enemies of Jesus devised their plans and God devised His plan; God is the Best of planners' (al-e-'Imran, 3:55); can be clearly discerned. Jesus perceived that his end was approaching and cried 51