Crucifixion of Christ

Body or Corpse of Christ?

After the crucifixion of Jesus, in the land of Judea, on the first Good Friday, we read in the Gospel of Mark chapter 15 verse 43 that Joseph of Arimathaea, a Jewish councillor, “went in boldly unto Pilate [who governed Judea) and craved the body of Jesus”. The Greek word for “body” is soma which is the normal word for body in the Greek New Testament. This implies that Joseph perceived Jesus was the Messiah, the King of the Jews, for we read in Luke’s Gospel chapter 23 verse 51 that he “waited for the Kingdom of God”.

In verse 45 we read that Pilate “gave the body to Joseph”. The word for “body” here is ptoma meaning “corpse”. Pilate perceived Jesus as merely another victim of the Roman form of execution and not appreciating He was (and is) sinless and was therefore the only One Who could “put away sin by the Sacrifice of Himself” on the cross at Calvary.