Nov 03, 2013
Mark 15:42-16:8


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[Mark 15:42-47] “Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath (Friday afternoon before the start of the Sabbath at 6 PM), Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus observed where He was laid.”

Though last Sunday we took a detailed look at the role Joseph played in the burial of Jesus,  Mark provides a few interesting and crucially important details concerning the activities of Pilate that establish the scene for what’s to come next. 


1. We can rest assured Jesus died on the cross.

According to Mark, Pilate’s immediate response to Joseph’s request for the body of Jesus was a genuine surprise the man he had just sentenced six hours earlier was already dead. 

Don’t forget a Roman crucifixion was designed to slowly execute a prisoner over the span of a couple days, not a couple of hours. 

Because this was an abnormal occurrence, Pilate requested an official autopsy report from the centurion before granting permission for Joseph to claim the body. 

“Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.” 

The centurion’s report would have been as follows:

Because of the complex social concerns and the direct order from Tiberius not to inflame tensions with the Jews, we determined that with the Jewish Sabbath beginning at sundown it was prudent to expedite the execution process of the three Hebrew subjects by breaking their legs so that they’d quickly suffocate. 

After completing this process with two of the three criminals, when we came to the man they referred to as Jesus, we concluded the need to expedite His execution was no longer necessary as it appeared He had already deceased.

Even though I personally eyewitnessed His death, to ascertain as to the cause, we drove a spear upward through the fifth interspace between the ribs through the pericardium into the heart. 

Not only did this confirm Jesus was indeed dead, but from the wound flowed a mixture of blood and water signifying the cause of death as cardiac arrest. 

Our post-mortem concludes Jesus died, not in the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure due to constriction by the pericardium.

After receiving this report affirming His death, Pilate granted Joseph the body of Jesus.


This detail is important because, in order to discredit the historical veracity of the resurrection of Jesus, some have presented what is known as the Swoon Theory. 


Swoon Theory argues that Jesus was crucified, appeared to be dead when He was laid in a tomb, but was revived, regained consciences, escaped the tomb, and then fabricated the story of His resurrection sparking the Christian religion.

Examples of the Swoon Theory:


1780 - Theologian Karl Friedrich Bahrdt (Bart) claimed Jesus used drugs provided by Luke to fake His death before being resuscitated by Joseph of Arimathea. 

1800 - Theologian Karl Venturini (Ven-tur-ini) proposed that two of Jesus followers heard Jesus groaning from the tomb where He had regained consciousness. They then frightened away the guards and rescued Jesus.

More recently, in a 1982 book called “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” another group of theologians proposed the idea that Pilate was actually bribed by Joseph to allow Jesus to be removed from the cross before He died.

The earliest presentation of the Swoon Theory is actually presented in the Koran. Today, many Muslims contend that Jesus faked His death before fleeing to India. This idea was popularized in a book written in 1899 called “Jesus in India.”

3 Problem with the Swoon Theory: 


1. The Roman’s were experts at killing their victims (there are no records of anyone ever surviving a Roman crucifixion). 

2. History states that Pilate received an official medical report from the executioner validating Jesus’ death by cardiac arrest before he released the body.

3. The Swoon Theory doesn’t account for the rest of the story. 

It seems illogical that if Jesus somehow had survived the crucifixion and was revived by the cool, damp air of the tomb that.... 


  •  He would have been able to do the physical exercises described in Scripture. 


Escape the burial clothing, roll back a 5 ton stone, overpower a collection of Roman guards, run to catch up with two disciples traveling to Emmaus, etc. 


  • Or that His bodily presence would have been motivation for the disciples to start a new religion based solely on His resurrection. 


Imagine a bloody, dehydrated, emaciated Jesus staggering into their midst only to declare, "I am risen!" Jesus would have demanded medical attention, not reverence as the risen prince of life! 

Alexander Metherell stated aptly, “A person in that kind of pathetic condition would never had inspired his disciples to go out and proclaim that he’s the Lord of life who had triumphed over the grave.” 

2. There was no mistaking the location of Jesus’ tomb.


Not only has Mark been clear the tomb was owned by Joseph of Arimathea (this would have been part of the official record), but he also tells us “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where Jesus was laid.”


“Observed” literally means “to view attentively, to take view of, to survey.”

And if that weren't enough, Matthew 27 provides another important detail. 

After releasing the body to Joseph “the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.”

This means in addition to Joseph, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, and Mary His mother; the two chief priests, and unspecified number of Pharisees, Pilate, and 16 Roman soldiers also knew where Jesus was buried.

This detail is important because, in order to discredit the historical veracity of the resurrection of Jesus, some have claimed the tomb was empty because the followers of Jesus went to the wrong tomb. 

Two Problems with this Theory: 



  • It ignores the facts presented in Scripture.

 

  • It would have been easy for the Jewish religious leaders to discredit the claims of the early Christians that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead when they could have simply presented the decaying body of Christ.


William Lane Craig, “If the tomb weren’t empty, it would be impossible for a movement founded on the belief in the resurrection to have come into existence in the same city where this man had been publicly executed and buried.”

3. It would have been impossible for someone to steal the body.


First, it should be mentioned that none of the Gospel authors present anyone with an incentive or motivation to steal the body of Jesus. 

Secondly, according to the verses we just looked at in Matthew 27, Pilate had given the Jewish rulers two important things to insure no one would be able to access the body: (1). A Roman guard detail, and (2) An official Roman wax seal to secure the tomb.

According to historical records a “Roman Guard” would have consisted of 16 men who were each required to be experts with a javelin, long and short sword. If one man was found asleep on duty the entire group would be put to death. 

This detail is important because, in order to discredit the historical veracity of the resurrection of Jesus, some have claimed the disciples stole the body of Jesus in order to create a new religion. 

3 Problems with this Theory:


1. The disciples didn’t possess the ability to steal the body. 

Stealing the body of Christ would have been the ultimate “Mission Impossible.” 

The body of Jesus was encased in a tomb carved into a hillside with only one entrance. This one entrance was sealed off with a 5 ton stone. Outside were 16 trained killers on 24 hour security with the one job to insure the body wasn’t stolen by the disciples. This would have eliminated any element of surprise. 

Not to mention, as demonstrated by Peter during Jesus’ arrest in the garden, the disciples weren’t exactly a well organized commando unit capable of the task.

2. There’s no motivation for the disciples to steal the body.

Realizing the inevitable fate when they saw Jesus arrested in the garden, these men ran and hid as cowards. What underlying motivation would there be for these men to now want to steal the body of Christ?

Especially when the punishment for breaking a Roman seal, attempting to steal a body, or attacking a Roman soldier was death by crucifixion. 

Since it’s clear there was much to loose if the attempt failed, you have to then consider what would the disciples gain by stealing the body?

It is a truth that lies or deceptions are typically done with some kind of selfish motive in the mind of the instigator; and yet, preaching the resurrection of Jesus did not bring any of the disciples wealth, fame, status, or popularity. 

Instead these men were hated, scorned, persecuted, excommunicated from Jewish society, imprisoned, exiled, beheaded, skinned alive, boiled in oil,  tortured, and in some instances crucified! 

Not to mention: Why would the disciples make up the resurrection story only to then worship a dead guy they knew was a liar and exposed fraud? 

Remember, Jesus told them He would rise after 3 days. If He was still dead on day four, that meant He wasn’t who He claimed to be. If Jesus remained dead, He wasn’t the Messiah and certainly not God! 

3. The disciples weren’t smart enough to pull off the greatest hoax in history.

Think about it this way.... If the resurrection were indeed a hoax, it was so brilliantly conceived and perfectly executed that it was able to change the course of human history. 

Each day for the rest of human history, this hoax would have been so ingenious thousands of skeptics would convert, follow, and die for a lie. 

The hoax would become so universally accepted the entire world would eventually change their calendars to reflect the birth of Jesus. 

Reality: We don’t see the disciples demonstrating the kind of brilliance required to pull off this kind of hoax. (Not to mention: no money, power, education.)

Example: If the Gospel’s record the greatest hoax in history, then you have to explain why they intentionally decided to have the very first eyewitnesses of the resurrection be women who’s testimony wouldn't have even been admissible in a court of law? 

Talmud, “Any evidence which a woman gives is not valid to offer.... This is equivalent to saying that one who is Rabbinical accounted a robber is qualified to give the same evidence as a woman.” 

If the resurrection of Jesus was a deliberately crafted hoax, then the authors would never have had women discover the empty grave. 

The lie would have had more credibility if men made the discovery. And yet, the Gospels present the apostles cowardly hiding from the authorities while women bring the news of the empty tomb! 

Ben Witherington III writes: "Given the patriarchal world of the earliest Christians, it is not believable that a missionary-minded group would make up such a story.... It is not believable that early Christians made up stories about women, and particularly Mary Magdalene, as the first and foremost validating witnesses of the risen Lord. This is not credible especially because the writers of these Gospels, like other early Christians, were hoping for more converts." 

It also seems logically improbable that 11 men pull off the greatest hoax in history without ever getting exposed, offering a death bed confession, or admitting it was a hoax under torture?  

Psychologically, it is intellectually honest to say these disciples would not have been willingly tortured and killed (and their families) for a known lie? 

While it is true people die for false beliefs, it’s important to point out these people die thinking their cause was based on the truth. Very rarely will someone die for a cause they know isn’t true. 

J.P. Moreland, “The apostles were willing to die for something they had seen with their own eyes and touched with their own hands. They were in a unique position not to just believe Jesus rose from the dead, but to know for sure. And when you’ve got eleven credible people with no ulterior motives, with nothing to gain and a lot to lose, who all agree they observed something with their own eyes - now you’ve got some difficulty explaining that way.”



[Mark 16:1-3] “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him (these would be additional ointments aside from the spices initially brought by Nicodemus for the burial). Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 

Scene of Activity

Because the Jews consider each day beginning and ending with sunset, it’s important to keep in mind the timeline for when each event actually occurred.

6:00 PM on Thursday Jesus celebrated Passover with the disciples.

2:00 AM on Friday Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

9:00 AM on Friday Jesus is crucified at Golgotha.

Noon on Friday Three hours of darkness.

3:00 PM on Friday Jesus dies on the cross.

Sometime between 3:00-6:00 PM Jesus’ body is removed from the cross by Joseph where He’s transported to a garden tomb. Jesus’ body is prepared for burial by Joseph and Nicodemus, before being laid in the tomb. The tomb is then secured by the stone, sealed by Rome, with guards posted.

6:00 PM on Friday Passover ends and the Sabbath officially begins.

6:00 PM on Saturday The Sabbath officially ends and Sunday begins.

Note: Establishing a timeline is significant because Jesus had prophesied on three separate occasions that He’d be resurrected “on the third day.” 

Jesus was buried Friday (day 1), spent Saturday in the tomb (day 2), and will be resurrected on Sunday (day 3). 

Sometime early Sunday morning “when the Sabbath was past” and as one Gospel writer notes “in darkness” we find several ladies (Mark only includes “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome”) who had been at the cross and witnessed Jesus’ death make their way to the garden tomb to anoint His body and pay their last respects. 

According to Mark 15:47 they know exactly where they are going. 

It is likely these ladies were unaware that Pilate had posted guards at the tomb, because they are worried who would help them “roll away the stone from the door.”


[Mark 16:4-8] “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe (literally the robe was glistening) sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Scene of Activity

As they neared the garden tomb the first indication something was abnormal was “that the stone had been rolled away - for it was very large.”

This detail was included to make sure the reader understood the stone could only be moved intentionally. It’s displacement was not an accident.

John 20 says when Mary Magdalene “saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved (John), and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 

At this point, while the rest of the scene is unfolding back at the tomb, Peter and John are in a foot race to the garden to evaluate the scene for themselves. 

Matthew 28:2-4 provides the explanation as to how the stone had been moved, “And behold (sometime that morning), there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.”

This explains why the guards are nowhere to be found when the ladies arrive.

Upon arriving at the tomb Luke 24:3 tells us the ladies, “went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth.”

Mark only mentions one “young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side” probably emphasizing only the one angel that spoke to these women.

Both Luke and Mark detail their reactions to the angel: “They were alarmed” - literally, “thrown into terror” at the presence of this angelic being.

The message that would follow would transition their terror into amazement for this angel would declare that “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen!”

The angel then provides them with two basic instructions:

1. “See the place where they laid Him.”

2. “Go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

Mark 16:8 then says, “They went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

Matthew 28:8 adds that as these women “went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Luke 24:9 tells us “then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” 

Observation concerning the angelic pronouncement that Jesus had been resurrected. 


“You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.””

It’s evident this angelic being had been sent by God with a two fold message for this group of women: (1). Jesus had been resurrected to life, and (2). They needed to go and let His disciples know because Jesus desire to meet them in Galilee. 

What I find interesting is that between these two instructions the angel does something interesting.... he invites them to see for themselves before they go and tell others. 

Note the order:

The Claim - Jesus has risen!

The Invitation - See for yourselves!

The Commission - Go tell others!

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