MARK LESSON 35
We will begin this lesson in Mark 15:36.
Mark 15:36 "And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and
put [it] on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us
see whether Elias will come to take him down."
In the last lesson, Jesus had cried out to the Father, and those
standing around thought He was calling out to Elijah. In the verse
above, the vinegar was to partially revive Him, so they could see if
Elijah would appear.
Mark 15:37 "And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the
ghost."
This showed that the act of giving up the ghost was of Jesus' free
will. This loud voice indicated His power was still there to do as He
would. The six hours of work on the cross was over. He had
accomplished what He had set out to do.
Mark 15:38 "And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the
top to the bottom."
Here, we see the curtain, which closed the way to God the Father,
opened. It was not opened by man (from the earth), but by the Lord of
all the heavenly. It was torn from the top; showing that God did it.
Now, the way to the Father was open to man. No mere man could go to
the Father before, but now, the way was opened by the Son.
Mark 15:39 "And when the centurion, which stood over against
him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly
this man was the Son of God."
The fact that Jesus dismissed His Spirit from His body tells you
He was in total control. This is more fully described in Luke 23:46,
"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the
ghost." Jesus, you see, commanded His Spirit to go to the Father,
dismissing His Spirit from His body. This centurion had been at many
crucifixions and knew this one was different. He was convinced by the
happenings that Jesus truly was the Son of God.
Mark 15:40 "There were also women looking on afar off: among whom
was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of
Joses, and Salome;" Mark 15:41 "(Who also, when he was in Galilee,
followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which
came up with him unto Jerusalem."
We see that the women (even in the face of these self-righteous
religious people) had not abandoned Jesus. Jesus' ministery involved
these women. Mary Magdalene had been delivered by Jesus of seven
devils. These women never doubted who this was. It is very sad, but
even today the larger percentage of the church is made up of devoted
women. Most churches have three women for every man. Perhaps, the
women were not in as much danger as the men being close by. We do not
know the details, we just know they were there. John was there, also,
and brought the account.
Mark 15:42 "And now when the even was come, because it was the
preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath," Mark 15:43 "Joseph
of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the
kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the
body of Jesus."
The sabbath began at 6 p.m., so the body had to be taken care of
quickly. About 3 p.m. Jesus gave up the ghost. This left three hours
for getting the body wrapped and in the tomb before sabbath. This was
Friday, not Wednesday, as many would have you believe. Sabbath is
Saturday, the day before is Friday. St. Matthew tells us a little
more about Joseph of Arimathaea. It says that he was a rich man, and
also, a disciple of Jesus. Perhaps, he was of the 120 disciples. We
know he had a cave that had not been used for burial. This was where
he would lay Jesus. Joseph loved Christ enough to expose himself to the
danger of association with Him, just to be able to bury His body.
Possibly, he was known of Pilate, but at any rate, he was allowed to
see Pilate and ask for the body. Remember, Pilate found no fault in
Jesus.
Mark 15:44 "And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and
calling [unto him] the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any
while dead."
This was a very unusual turn of events. Most crucifixions were
long and drawn out. Many times the legs of the victims had to be
broken to hasten death. This was not the case with Jesus. He had no
broken bones. The perfect Lamb sacrifice could have no broken bones.
In St. John, we read a little more detail about their not breaking His
legs. St. John 19:31-34, John 19:31 "The Jews therefore, because it
was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross
on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought
Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken
away." John 19:32 "Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the
first, and of the other which was crucified with him." John 19:33 "But
when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake
not his legs:" John 19:34 "But one of the soldiers with a spear
pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."
Every little detail of prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus is our Lamb
Sacrifice. The centurion could only say, "Yes, He is dead" when Pilate
asked.
Mark 15:45 "And when he knew [it] of the centurion, he gave the
body to Joseph."
Hebrews do not embalm, embalming is Egyptian, so Jesus was
wrapped in fine linen and carried to the tomb, as we read in verse 46.
Mark 15:46 "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."
We see from all this several things. The fine linen symbolizes
righteousness. The Lord was wrapped in righteousness. We see that
Joseph loved Jesus, possibly, even helped with the wrapping and
carrying of the body personally. At any rate, Jesus was put in a
brand new tomb which had belonged to Joseph of Arimathaea. This had
been hewn out of a rock, and Jesus was laid inside, and a large stone
rolled over the door. This fulfilled the Scripture which stated He
would be buried with the rich.
Mark 15:47 "And Mary Magdalene and Mary [the mother] of Joses
beheld where he was laid."
The women had still been at the cross when Joseph came and got
the body, and they followed, and saw where the body was laid. The
spices or perfumes would be applied to the burial cloths later. I say
one more time, Hebrews were not embalmed. That was an Egyptian
practice. Hebrews, even today, are not embalmed. They are buried
within 24 hours so embalming is not necessary.
Notes
Mark 35 Questions
1. When they gave Jesus the spunge of vinegar, what were they wanting
to see?
2. What did Jesus do right, before He gave up the Ghost?
3. What did that show us and the centurion?
4. How many hours was the suffering on the cross?
5. How was the temple veil torn?
6. What does this show?
7. When the centurion saw all of this, what did he say?
8. In Luke 23:46, what do we learn about Jesus' death on the cross?
9. Who were the loyal followers of Jesus who stood nearby?
10. What is a sad thing in our churches today regarding women?
11. Who was Mary Magdalene?
12. What disciple had been at the crucifixion?
13. What was the hurry to get the body off the cross and buried?
14. Who came for the body?
15. Who did he ask for it?
16. How many hours were left for the burying before the sabbath?
17. What day of the week was Jesus crucified?
18. In verse 42, what left no doubt as to the day?
19. Who was Joseph of Arimathaea?
20. What did Pilate marvel at?
21. What sometimes had to be done to hurry death?
22. Were Jesus' legs broken? Why?
23. When the soldier pierced Jesus side, what two things came out?
24. When did Pilate release Jesus' body to Joseph?
25. What was Jesus wrapped in?
26. What does the material symbolize?
27. After Jesus was placed in the rock hewn tomb, what was done to
secure the tomb?
28. What country does embalming come from?
29. Was Jesus embalmed?
30. What two women beheld where He lay?
Notes
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