COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 170
Mark 15:42 “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 44And Pilate marveled if He were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether He had been any while dead. 45And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. 47And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid.”
(Mark 15:42-47; Matt 27:52-56; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-42)
THE BODY OF JESUS IS BURIED
INTRODUCTION
Jesus had died for our sins “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3), fulfilling a host of prophecies concerning His death. He also accomplished a number of things in His death that were requisite to salvation. These included putting away sin (Heb 9:26), reconciling the world to God (2 Cor 5:18-19), making peace through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20), destroying the devil (Heb 2:14), plundering principalities and powers (Col 2:15), ending the Law as a means to righteousness (Rom 10:4), and opening a new and living way to God (Heb 10:20). But there was much to be fulfilled. Isaiah said prophesied “He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death” (Isa 53:9). Other versions read, “His grave was assigned,” NASB and “He was assigned a grave.” NIV Like His death, Christ’s burial was purposed and carried out by God Almighty. Our text will reveal HOW that Divine determination was carried out, and the kind of people who were employed in this purposed act. As Joseph had made arrangement for his bones, commanding that they be carried out of Egypt, so Isaiah declared that something would be done with Christ’s body. Even though Jesus would be raised from the dead, there was a keen interest in heaven concerning the placement of that body until resurrection morning. Remember, the burial of Jesus is an essential part of the Gospel itself (1 Cor 15:3-4). All four Gospels record the burial of Jesus. Paul declared it in Acts 13:39. Baptism is also depicted as being “buried with Christ” (Rom 6:4; Col 2:12).
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA COMES BOLDLY TO PILATE
“ Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”
THE DAY BEFORE THE SABBATH. The “even,” or “evening,” NKJV commenced at 3:00 P.M. By now, it is some time after the ninth hour, nine ‘clock P.M. This was the hour that Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hath Thou forsaken Me” (Matt 27:46). Jesus appears to have died immediately after He had yielded up His spirit to the Father (Lk 23:46).
The “day before the Sabbath,” preparations were made for the Sabbath itself. This included making the house ready for the Passover Sabbath by ridding it of all leaven, for nothing leavened could be eaten on the Sabbath (Ex 12:19-20). Paul alludes to this in his exhortation to rid the church of defiling influences (1 Cor 5:7-8). God Himself honored the day of preparation by taking away the sin of the world by means of His own Lamb (John 1:29).
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA. All four Gospels mention this man in connection with Jesus’ burial (Matt 27:57; Mk15:43; Lk 23:51; John 18:38). He is not mentioned before nor after this time. Several things are said of him that are worthy of note. Luke 23:53 identifies Arimathaea as “a city of the Jews” (Lk 23:51).
An Honorable Counselor. Mark says that He was an “honorable counselor,” or “a prominent member of the council.” NIV This is the “council” that had decreed the death of Jesus (Matt 26:59; 14:55). Joseph had, then, been exposed to the trial of Jesus that took place in the palace of Caiaphas.
He waited for THE Kingdom of God. Mark also states that Joseph “waited for the kingdom of God.” Luke also reports that Joseph was waiting for the kingdom of God (Lk 23:51). He had believed the preaching of John the Baptist who told the people. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:2). Jesus had also preached that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17). When Jesus first sent out the twelve, He told them “preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 10:7). The other Gospel writers refer to this same kingdom as “the kingdom of God” (Mk 1:15; 15:42; Lk 21:31). The word “waited” means Joseph was looking for, or anticipating, the kingdom of God.
He was a rich man. Matthew states that Joseph was “a rich man from Arimathaea” (Matt 27:57a). The fact that Joseph laid the body of Jesus in his own tomb fulfilled the Scripture, “He made his grave . . . with the rich” (Isa 53:9). Notice, it was not in life that Jesus became associated with the rich, as some false prophets allege. It was rather in His death that He did so, confirming that riches themselves are connected with death, at which point every man loses his grip upon them.
He was a good and a just man. Luke tells us that Joseph as “a good man and a just,” or “a good and upright man” NIV (Lk 23:50). This description confirms why he was an “honorable counselor,” noted for good judgment, goodness and upright determinations.
He had not consented unto the judgment against Jesus. Luke also points out that Joseph did not cast his vote for the death of Jesus, but stood against the other members of the council: “The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them” (Luke 23:51). Another version says he “had not agreed with or assented to the purpose and action of the others” AMPLIFIED
He was a secret disciple. Matthew tells us that Joseph “also himself was Jesus’ disciple” (Matt 27:57). John informs us that he was a secret disciple, who did not confess Jesus openly because he feared the Jews: “Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38). But now, after Jesus has died, this man becomes bold, and no longer hides behind the wall of fear.
Methinks there are still people who have a heart for Jesus, and truly desire to follow Him. Yet, because of the lack of commitment to Jesus within the professing church, they keep that matter to themselves, being a secret disciple. Yet, if they will embrace the fact of Jesus death, they too, like Joseph, will become bold, displaying an obvious interest in Jesus.
HE WENT BOLDLY UNTO PILATE. Other versions read, “taking courage,” NKJV “gathered up courage,” NASB and “daring the consequences.” AMPLIFIED Matthew and Luke say he “begged the body of Jesus” (Matt 27:58; Lk 23:52). John says that he “besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus” (John 19:38). Considering the manner in which Pilate had looked upon the Jews, slaying some Jewish worshipers while they were making a sacrifice (Lk 13:1), Joseph was bold indeed. From the earthly point of view, it was Joseph’s respect for Jesus that caused him to gather boldness during this occasion. From the heavenly viewpoint, God moved this man to have more of a concern for the body of Jesus than for his own life. Mark says he “craved the body” (Mk 15:43). Matthew and Luke say he “begged the body” (Matt 27:58; Lk 23:52). John days he “besought Pilate that he might take away the body” (John 19:38).
JOSEPH LAYS THE BODY OF JESUS IN HIS OWN TOMB
“ 44 And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.”
PILATE MARVELED. Pilate “was surprised to hear” NIV that Jesus was already dead. As I have said before, crucifixion was not intended to a rapid and merciful death. It was intended to be a rather lengthy process during which potential malefactors could witness the execution and thereby be duly warned to stay within the circumference of law and order.
Pilate therefore calls for the attending centurion – probably the very one that had witnessed how Jesus died, and responded “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39). This centurion attested that Jesus had, in fact, died, being dead for some time.
HE GAVE THE BODY TO JOSEPH. When Pilate knew that Jesus was, in fact, dead, “he gave the body to Joseph.” Matthew says that Pilate “commanded the body to be delivered” to Joseph (Matt 27:58). John says, “and Pilate gave him leave,” or “gave him permission.” NKJV Of course, God is behind the scenes, accomplishing His own will, seeing to it that Jesus makes “His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death” (Isa 53:9).
Joseph then went to the cross on which Jesus’ body was still suspended, and “took it down, and wrapped it in linen” (Lk 23:53). John says that he “came therefore, and took the body of Jesus” (John 19:38). I cannot conceive of this as being in any way a simplistic task. I do not doubt that Joseph went about the work with the greatest care and tenderness. It must have been a heart wrenching task for him to complete, for he was a disciple of Jesus. There is no record of anyone assisting him in removing the body from the cross.
NICODEMUS JOINS JOSEPH. John records that at this point, Nicodemus joins Joseph. We do not know if he joined in removing Jesus from the cross, or in the initial wrapping of the body. He is specifically identified as the one “which at the first came to Jesus by night” (John 19:39). That visitation is recorded in John 3:1-21. The words “at the first” refer to the beginning of Christ’s ministry, when Jesus first attended the Passover feast, teaching and working many miracles (John 2:23).
Midway in Christ’s ministry, when the chief priests and Pharisees were engaging in an effort to snare Jesus, Nicodemus, himself a Pharisee, had spoke up: “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51). His question elicited a response from the others, but at that time they refrained from taking further action against Jesus: “They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house” (John 7:52-53).
Thus, we have two men who were, to some degree, devoted to Jesus. They did not follow Jesus openly, as some of His other disciples, but had the beginning of life in them. In some respects they were like “a bruised reed” and “smoking flax” (Matt 12:20). They could also be likened to “little ones” which, Jesus said, “believe in Me” (Matt 18:6).
John tells us that Nicodemus “brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight” This was a Greek pound, not an American one, and is said to be equivalent to about seventy-five pounds. John says that Joseph and Nicodemus then “took . . . the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury” (John 19:40).
THEY LAID HIM IN A NEW TOMB. John says of Joseph and Nicodemus, “they” placed Jesus in “a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid” (John 19:41). Matthew says that the tomb was Joseph’s own sepulcher, and that he is the one who had cut it out of the rock (Matt 27:60). Mark also tells us that the tomb had been “hewn out of a rock” (Mk 15:46). John reports that it was in a garden where Jesus had been crucified: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid” (John 19:41).
Here we behold a most excellent picture of true discipleship. The nature of a disciple is discovered in the earnest desire to minister to Jesus Himself. This is to be compared with those who only want o receive something from Jesus. Not yet knowing that Jesus would rise from the dead, Joseph and Nicodemus are careful to do something that could not be driven by a selfish motive. So far as they knew, they could not possibly receive reward for what they did. They did it because they wanted to, without any regard to reaping something from their labors.
Yet, wherever the Gospel is preached, the deed of these two men is declared. They did not know they were fulfilling the Scripture – but they were. As the day drew to a close, their activity picked up! Even though it looked as though everything was over, they continued to display their affection for Jesus. Like the woman who ministered to Jesus out of their substance (Luke 8:3), these men also ministered out of their’s. I thank God for their record.
SOME SAW WHERE JESUS WAS LAID
“ 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid.”
There was a certain alertness in these followers of Jesus that is worthy of our consideration. Here, in what appeared to be the darkest hour for them, their minds were aware, their hearts sensitive, and their emotions under control. The witnesses mentioned in our text had remained with Jesus, even though the circumstances were grievous, and possible dangers were all around them. The mother of Jesus had listened intently when He spoke to her. The disciple whom Jesus loved had listened purposefully when Jesus spoke to him. There were some women who had lingered at the cross: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). There was also a cluster of persons who stood at a distance, beholding what was taking place: “And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him” (Matt 27:55). The penitent thief was alert, perceptive, and able to make a departing request that Jesus honored: “ . . . this Man hath done nothing amiss . . . Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:41-42). The centurion observed what took place, and drew a God-honoring conclusion: “Truly this Man was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39).
All of these people, and perhaps more, kept their spiritual composure, even though it appeared as though all hope was lost. In the day of judgment, when various people will arise to testify against those who had received more than they, yet done less with it, how will those who have given up during difficult times, when disappointment and frustration appear? The people in our text stand as noble examples of how individuals can be made to stand (Rom 14:4)!
THEY BEHELD WHERE HE WAS LAID. Mark says Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses “beheld where He was laid.” Matthew reports that after Joseph had placed the body of Jesus “in his own new tomb,” “he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed,” adding and “there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher” (Matt 27:60-61). The stone that Joseph rolled before the mouth of the tomb was apparently the one that Pilate had “sealed,” and placing a guard there (Matt 27:60).
Luke reports, “And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how His body was laid” (Luke 23:54). Therefore, they remained at Golgotha while Joseph took the body off of the cross. This must have required some time, for Joseph had begged Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate had sent for the centurion, who came and reported to him that Jesus had been dead for some time. Yet, the women stayed on, their hearts being knit to Jesus.
Now, after what may have been a rather lengthy time, they follow Joseph and Nicodemus to the tomb, which was in the same area. They did this while “the Sabbath drew on,” or “was about to begin.” NASB They did so in spite of the fact that this was the day of preparation, when they were to make ready for the observance of the Sabbath. Joseph and Nicodemus, also aware of the commencement of the Sabbath, no doubt moved quickly, lest they defile themselves. Neither them nor the women forgot the Sabbath day, even though they were in a set of circumstances that were, to say the least, unusual.
Here we are being exposed to tender hearts, and how they react under stress. In the flesh, tenderness is often related to weakness, so that people often break down, or fall apart because of sensitivity. But that does not happen here. In fact, this sensitivity is characterized by strength, attention to details, and mental alertness. As will be confirmed in the verses that follow, these woman have every intention of returning to anoint the body of Jesus – but they will not do so in a manner that dishonors the Sabbath day. Although this was the darkest hour of their lives, yet they maintained a respect for the ordinances of the Lord.
John indicates that Joseph and Nicodemus quickly adjusted to the circumstances, making a choice on where to lay the body of the Lord. Apparently Joseph had not planned ahead of time to bury Jesus in his own tomb. Here is how John records the matter: “Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand” (John 19:41-42). From one point of view, it was a quick decision. From the heavenly perspective, the Scriptures were being fulfilled by their deed, with Jesus making His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death (Isa 53:9).
Although it has become popular to assess believers from a psychological point of view, and to present psychical answers for spiritual problems, this text reveals the utter foolishness of such an approach. I do not believe the actions of Joseph, Nicodemus, and the women of reference, could have taken place among a people adopting these modern views. The alertness that characterized these people cannot be traced to the human psyche. They rather flow out from a devotion to Christ that cannot be achieved by routine or natural aptitude. These were people of tender heart – people in whom the Lord could work both to will and to do.