by Audrey Bauman

Mark 15: 42 - 47   NLT

The Burial of Jesus

⁴² This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) ⁴⁴ Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. ⁴⁵ The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. ⁴⁶ Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.”

The Jewish Sabbath begins around 6 o'clock on Friday evening. At that point, all work stops. Friday is the "day of preparation" that you see mentioned in verse 42. On that day meals were prepared to cover Friday and Saturday. Double the amount of food needed for animals was set out. Any other chores necessary such as gathering firewood was also done on Friday. Jesus died on Friday afternoon, so it was necessary to get the preparations for his burial done quickly.

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin. Wait a minute - wasn't the Sanhedrin responsible for Jesus' death? Mark in his aside mentions that Joseph was "an honoured member of the high council". Luke mentions in Luke 23: 50 - 51 that Joseph did not agree with Sanhedrin's decision and actions. Matthew mentions that Joseph had become a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27: 57). John mentions that Joseph had become a secret follower of Jesus because of his fear of the Jews (John 19: 38). Watching that crucifixion must have put Joseph into action. Fear aside, he wanted Jesus buried properly. 

Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already considered dead. Apparently many of those crucified took longer to die - a thought that is really horrific. So Pilate calls for the Roman officer who is in charge of the crucifixions to make sure Jesus was dead. That detail is actually important because many later tried to say that Jesus had never really died. He was just in a coma, and then managed to get himself out of the tomb. Pilate's job is very political, and he made sure that Jesus was dead. That is important for us today because Jesus' resurrection is the reason we believe that when he took our punishment for sin it truly happened. There is nothing farcical or made-up about Jesus' death and resurrection.

"Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.” They wanted to know where Jesus was buried so they could return after Sabbath for more burial procedures. 

Stop for a moment and remember when someone you loved died. Remember how you felt, how you behaved. I remember when my husband passed away. Decisions were quickly made for the funeral and burial. I remember wanting his funeral to be special, yet also making those decisions in kind of a fog. It's almost like you know the person's dead, yet in a way it still hasn't really sunk in.

Jesus' disciples and followers must have been devastated. They had followed Jesus really thinking that he would restore Israel to its glory. Rome would be expelled and Jesus would rule over a worldwide Jewish empire. Jesus had talked with his disciples about a coming death, but remember in earlier chapters of Mark, how they really didn't comprehend what he was saying. Now what would happen? Now what would they do with their lives? They began to hide.

Today we know what actually happened. Jesus would rise from the dead and life would take on so much more meaning. Their despair was just step 1 in an amazing journey. We see that journey begin as we read later scripture:

1 Corinthians 15: 3 - 8 NLT

"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. "

Jesus death wasn't permanent. Death is not the end. New life begins - not just for Jesus, but for each one of us!

1 Thessalonians 4: 13 - 14  NLT

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died."

Our song for today is The Cross Has The Final Word by Cody Carnes.