(a) Give an account of the burial of Jesus as narrated by the Synoptic Gospels. (b) Mention three ways money is overspent during funerals in society.

Answer Details

(a) An account of the burial of Jesus as narrated by the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23).

1. When evening had come, and because it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, a rich man of Arimathea named Joseph, a respected member of the council who was himself looking for the kingdom of God and a good and righteous man who had not consented to the council's decision, came forward.
2. Joseph took courage and went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
3. Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked whether Jesus had been dead for some time; when he learned from the centurion that He was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.
4. Joseph bought a linen shroud, took the body down from the cross, and wrapped it in the clean linen cloth.
5. He laid the body in his own new tomb, which had been hewn out of the rock, where no one had yet been laid.
6. He rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb and went away.
7. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Mary the mother of Joses) were sitting opposite the tomb and saw where the body was laid; the women who had come with Him from Galilee then returned and prepared spices and ointments, resting on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
8. In Matthew's account, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate the next day, recalling that Jesus had said He would rise after three days, and asked that the tomb be made secure. Pilate gave them a guard, and they made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.

(b) Three ways money is overspent during funerals in society.

1. Elaborate and expensive coffins and caskets: people spend heavily on costly, ornate coffins to display status.
2. Lavish feasting and entertainment: large amounts are spent on food, drinks, live bands and refreshments for mourners.
3. Buying of expensive uniform cloth (aso-ebi) and mourning attire: families incur great cost on matching clothes and accessories.
4. Renting canopies, halls, hiring photographers, videographers and hearses, and printing costly funeral programmes and posters.
5. Prolonged wake-keeping ceremonies that run for days and consume large sums of money.