Day Sixteen - Mark 15:42-47

Today's reading is only six short verses recounting moments filled with grief and sadness.

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Mark 15:42-47

There was a rush to bury Jesus before the Sabbath when an unlikely candidate stepped forward to secure Jesus’ body. Joseph of Arimathea was a upstanding member of the Jewish Council who obviously didn’t agree with the verdict of the Sanhedrin. If he had, he almost certainly wouldn’t have made the bold move to approach Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus. Offering a burial place for the body of Jesus may not demonstrate that Joseph was a disciple but it did show his public support for Jesus.

Pilate’s surprise at the death of Jesus is explained by the fact that crucifixions were designed to prolong the agony of death. It could take up to seven days for the victim of a crucifixion to die. Pilate released the body of Jesus and Joseph wrapped it in linen cloth and place it in the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were there to the very end by Jesus’ side.

Joseph had to move quickly to secure Jesus’ body after three o’clock and move him to the tomb by sundown. The Sabbath was approaching and there was little time to waste.

“Mark finished his account of the burial with a feeling of eager impatience. He has set everything in order for the next stage, but now it is sabbath, and everything must rest, including the body of Jesus himself.”

Tom Wright

Something to think about…

Today spend time reflecting on the death of Jesus Christ and what is means for you personally.

Thank you Jesus for the blood applied

Thank you Jesus, it has washed me white

Thank you Jesus, You have saved my life

Brought me from the darkness into glorious light

Charity Gayle

Kay Moorby