Verse 42
John implied that the burial of Jesus was hasty. Mark and Luke presented the same picture by writing that three of the women came to anoint Jesus’ corpse, on Sunday morning, with additional spices that they had prepared (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56). Joseph and Nicodemus’ work had necessarily been swift because the day of preparation before the Sabbath (i.e., Friday) was about to end with sundown.
John did not mention the fact that some of the women visited Jesus’ tomb late Friday afternoon (cf. Matthew 27:61-66; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55-56). He also omitted that Joseph rolled a stone over the mouth of the tomb (Matthew 27:60; Mark 15:46). What follows in chapter 20 assumes these facts. John did not mention either that Pilate sealed the tomb and posted soldiers to guard it (Matthew 27:62-66).
"While we now recognize that all four Evangelists are theologians in their own right, the Fourth Evangelist has labored more than all to bring to the clear light of day the theological significance of the passion narrative handed on to the churches." [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. 361.]
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