1. Mark 15:46 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did Joseph roll a stone against the entrance of the tomb?

Mark 15:46 (ESV)

46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

These stones were to prevent the graves from being robbed. It would be a very heavy stone, requiring a number of people to move it. Joseph would have certainly needed help in taking down Jesus’ body from the cross, wrapping him it in linen and carrying it to the place of burial. Because he was a rich man, most likely his servants helped him.1