Mark 15:42 When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

Mark 15:42    When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

What time is established in the pericope of Jesus’ burial?

“When evening had already come…” (Mark 15:42).

·      ἤδη (ēdē) (“already”) ὀψίας (opsias) (“evening”)

·      γενομένης (genomenēs) (“had come”) Feminine Genitive Singular Aorist Middle Participle of γίνομαι “of the various divisions of a day” (BDAG, 197).

·      What does the Law of Moses instruct regarding the burial of the corpse of a man who is hung on a tree?

“If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance” (Deut 21:22-23).

Why is Jesus buried at this time?

“…because it was the preparation day…” (Mark 15:42).

·      παρασκευἠ (paraskeuē) “day of preparation for the Passover (or Friday of Passover Week)” (BDAG. 771).

What is the preparation day?

“…that is, the day before the Sabbath” (Mark 15:42).

·      προσάββατον (prosabbaton) (πρό, σάββατον)

o  “Prepositions appear not only before verbal substantives and adjectives, but also, though far less often, before other substantives and adjectives: προσάββατον Mk 15:42 and several compounds with συν-“ (BDF, 63).

o  According to Josephus, Caesar Augustus passed specific legislation to protect Jewish customs in observance of the day of preparation and the Sabbath. Josephus observes: “(162) Caesar Augustus, high priest and tribune of the people, ordains thus:—Since the nation of the Jews have been found grateful to the Roman people, not only at this time but in times past also, and chiefly Hyrcanus the high priest, under my father, Caesar the emperor, (163) it seemed good to me and my counsellors, according to the sentence and oath of the people of Rome, that the Jews have liberty to make use of their own customs, according to the law of their forefathers, as they made use of them under Hyrcanus, the high priest of Almighty God; and that their sacred money be not touched, but be sent to Jerusalem, and that it be committed to the care of the receivers at Jerusalem; and that they be not obliged to go before any judge on the Sabbath day, nor on the day of the preparation to it, after the ninth hour” (Josephus, Ant. 16.162-163).

o  Josephus contrasted the impiety of the Idumeans who cast away corpses after a slaughter without burial to the ritual piety of the Jews who prescribed careful burial of even the condemned and crucified:

“Nay, they [the Idumeans] proceeded to that degree of impiety, as to cast away their dead bodies without burial, although the Jews used to take so much care of the burial of men, that they took down those that were condemned and crucified, and buried them before the going down of the sun” (Josephus, War 4.316-17).

If Jesus is buried on Friday, the day before the Sabbath, on what day will He be raised according to what He had foretold His disciples concerning His death and resurrection from the dead?

“saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day” (Luke 9:22).

Father,

Your nature is divine. Your power is eternal and sovereign. Your purposes are unthwartable. Your grace is abounding and Your lovingkindness is better than life. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. And by Your grace, You justify sinners by faith in Jesus, just as You justified Abraham who believed You, and it was reckoned to Him as righteousness, and just as the Scripture, foreseeing that You would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.’

No one is justified by the Law before You is evident, for, ‘THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” However, the Law is not of faith, on the contrary, ‘HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’ – in order that in Christ the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

And now apart from the Law Your righteousness has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even Your righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of Your glory, being justified as a gift by Your grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom You displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate Your righteousness, because in Your forbearance You passed over the sins previously committed, for the demonstration of Your righteousness at the present time, so that You would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Glory and thanks to You for imputing the perfect righteousness of Jesus to us by faith alone in Jesus, that we may approach Your throne of majesty with confidence and boldness. You have justified us by Your grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and You have reconciled us to Yourself in peace and love. We are a new creation in Christ, born of the Spirit, and called children of God according to Your good will and pleasure. Glory to Messiah Jesus for His gift of redemption from the power and penalty of sin and for His all-sufficient grace and power made perfect in our weakness. Glory to the power of Jesus’ Name! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD! Now to You Who are able to keep us from stumbling, and to make us stand in the presence of Your glory with great joy, to You, the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.