“Then Joseph bought
A linen cloth.
He took the body down.
He wrapped it
In the linen cloth.
He laid it
In a tomb
That had been hewn
Out of the rock.
He then rolled
A stone
Against the door
Of the tomb.”
καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησεν τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνήματι ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισεν λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου.
This is similar to Matthew, chapter 27:59-60, and Luke, chapter 23:53, almost word for word. John, chapter 19:38-41 introduced Nicodemus into this burial ritual. Mark said that Joseph brought a clean linen cloth (καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα). He took the body down from the cross (καθελὼν αὐτὸν). These biblical texts do not explain if he needed help with this task. Then he wrapped the body in the linen cloth (ἐνείλησεν τῇ σινδόνι). Finally, he laid Jesus’ body in his own new tomb (καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνήματι), that he had carved or hewn in a rock (ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας). He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb (καὶ προσεκύλισεν λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου). This seemed like a private one-person burial ritual.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 