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Home , Mark 15

Outline “Associating with ” (Mark 15:39-47)

Intro/Set-Up • Review from Mark 15:16-39

I. Jesus’ Death Observed (vv. 39-41) • Those present • Their Testimony • The Women and their Special Role

II. Jesus’ Death Confirmed (vv. 44-45) • Acquainted with Death • Assured of Death

III. Appearing Out of the Shadows (vv. 42-43, 46-47) • “Preparation Day” • “Coming and Taking Courage” • A unique role filled by unique men

IV. Conclusion • Associating with Jesus

Intro/Set-up

Good Morning Laramie! • Events of the Week • Jokes • Etc.

Last week we continued our study in Mark’s looking at Mark chapter 15 and the details surrounding the event of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Over the last few weeks we have spent our time observing Jesus and the details surrounding His death. It all started with friendly betrayal, a set of midnight trials, an early morning presentation before Pilate, an unjust beating, followed by an unjust sentence all culminating with the Innocent Son of condemned and nailed to the cross.

And yet woven throughout this incredible and incomprehensible event is the plan of God to bring salvation to the world– Jesus the Lamb of God has come to take away the sins of the world.

In our study last week we observed how this work was completed in Jesus’ work on the cross as He cries it with a loud voice declaring, “It is finished” and gives up His spirit.

Jesus’ cry was one of accomplishment and completion– He’s done it, the work is complete, the price has been paid, redemption secured, sin is defeated and death has a cure. “The cry reveals that Jesus is dying for a purpose; and that purpose is now fulfilled.” –Gino Geraci

We also see the Father accepts the offering of His Son, Creation shakes at demise of its Creator, and the way is opened to God for all to enter in, by way of Jesus, to a relationship with God. Something else we observed last week is the climax of Mark’s Gospel as he has been weaving together the identity of Jesus, making known the way of the ultimate Servant and declaring Him as the Son of God. And we see the unique character of God on display as He uses an unlikely character present at the cross to make this declaration, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

This declaration now transitions to introducing us to a few more unlikely characters who are associated with Jesus and who are unafraid to allow their allegiance to be known. *Read Mark 15:39- 47*

I. Jesus’ Death Observed (vv. 39-41)

• Those present

The first character that we see in our study this morning is a carry over from last week, but his role is essential and worth re-visiting.

The first and most prominent character we see holds an important role in not only the declaration of who Jesus is, but also in the determination of His death.

The Roman process of crucifixion was a long and drawn out one, often taking days to accomplish. Then even after those who were hung on the cross had died, they were left, to either rot or be eaten by birds and animals.

But we see significant Jewish influence put on this Roman process as the event is hastened due to “time restraints” with the coming festival and Sabbath in the very near future. *Read :31-36*

This fact becomes important when discussing any sort of “objection” to Jesus’ death. This wasn’t a “stand in” for Jesus as Islam believes, or the “swoon theory” (as some foolish people may declare), but Jesus really and truly died (He wasn’t mostly dead, He was ALL dead).

And the Centurion’s presence testifies to this end– he was a man acquainted with death, and therefore was well aware of the characteristics and elements that went along with it.

The other people present that we see as the lens zooms out to a wider angle is a list of women who were present at Jesus’ death: , Mary the mother of and of , and (v. 40).

Mark also tells us in verse 41 these ladies followed Jesus, ministered to Him in and were among those who came up with Jesus to , including many other women.

Their presence and mention is unique considering the role of women and their consideration within the realm of society at that time.

- God’s Word is unique (not made up as some sort of story of fiction, but is true) - In the timing of that day no legal status concerning their testimony: No woman could testify in a court of law - But we see here God turning things on their head as it were: Elevating the status of women and giving them a prominent place in His record.

We can also be confident in the testimony of these women because of the way they are identified to us by Mark– they were real people, in real time, giving a real report of what really happened.

The names of those who these women were associated with may not mean anything to us, but apparently to the readers of Mark’s Gospel these people would have been well known within the context of that group.

These women obviously were well known and did important work in support of Jesus and on behalf of the early church.

• Their Testimony • The Women and their Special Role

We are thankful for these women, for their commitment to Jesus and to the special role that they held and the special jobs that they fulfilled.

This I’m sure can also be stated for the women in your own life– maybe your wife or your mother and the supporting and uplifting roles that they play in your life. God has given the gift of women in the same way that He has given of His Holy Spirit– to fulfill the role of helper. “18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” –Genesis 2:18

- The false declaration of the world in regards to the church and the “patriarchy” - The church through Jesus elevated women to a place and a value that had never before been placed on them - Women viewed as property prior to Jesus

Now what I don’t want you to do this morning is to hear me say that whatever a man can do a woman can do or vise versa– each was designed for a specific role and specific purpose, no matter what society tries to tell you men and women are not interchangeable. Men and Women are unique and in their uniqueness are given special roles to fill– in the home, in society and even in the church.

“Does it then set women free to assume the roles of pastor and preacher? And to assume roles that entrusted only to men in the church? The answer is no, for that would be to turn the on it’s head. But a woman does not need to fulfill a role assigned to a man to ever grant her significance either in society or in the home or in the church. For the significance given to women is a significance ordained by God, designed by God and for which a woman is uniquely equipped by God. And so for those roles to be blurred or reversed or contravened is actually to do a disservice to the very distinctions of gender which are written into the very heart and life of society by God who made us.” – Alistair Begg

In this context society will try and contrive some sort of argument in realm of “importance” or hierarchy, but the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth God hasn’t placed the roles of leadership in such a way as to declare importance so much as to declare order.

In creation we can observe that God is very orderly, every thing has order, from the seasons, to the years, to the weeks, to the days, everything functions best when it sticks to God’s ordained order (just observe the current state of our own society, we are living in the “upside down” where the God ordained order of things has been turned on it’s head and is under attack).

We could further discuss the roles of men and women and God’s ordained purpose for each of them, but that’s another sermon for another time.

Today we are simply thankful for these devoted women and their willingness to be associated with Jesus in His death and later we see them used by God to announce His resurrection.

II. Jesus’ Death Confirmed (vv. 44-45)

• Acquainted with Death • Assured of Death

Moving on we again see the Centurion reappear on the scene as the confirming witness of Jesus’ death to Pilate. We read of their conversation in verses 44-45

Pilate is amazed at how quickly everything has taken place, we also see him now resigned back to a sense of duty and fulfilling a “job” in relationship to Jesus’ death.

Now the Roman way of dealing with those who died on the cross was very dishonorable, they didn’t care how they were taken care of and they would often be discarded in a heap– added to a mass grave.

However, now we see God prompting within the hearts of some unlikely men to act on behalf of Jesus, and in so doing fulfilling the plans and purposes of God, on behalf of not only the respect and care of Jesus “post mortem” but also in relation to the prophetic declarations of Scripture.

And so we see God’s ordained man for the moment *Read vv. 42-46*

III. Appearing Out of the Shadows (vv. 42-43, 46-47)

• “Preparation Day” • “Coming and Taking Courage” • A unique role filled by unique men

If Jesus died sometime after 3:00; it would leave only a few short hours to remove Jesus from the cross, wash his body and carry him to the . This unique information alone prompts us to look further into these men who seem to appear out of nowhere and associating themselves with Jesus.

Joseph is called prominent (euschemon) meaning honorable of high standing--the noun bouleutes (only here and :50) means member of a council. was therefore a member of the Great at Jerusalem.

Nicodemus we know from John’s Gospel had a secret meeting with Jesus and I’m sure that together he and Joseph of Arimathea had considerable discourse considering Jesus’ identity and purpose.

And it becomes apparent as we put the pieces together of their actions in relation to Jesus’ death that they had in fact poured over Scripture and (with the aid of the Holy Spirit) God has revealed to them the identity of His Son.

This prompts them to make preparations and take action on His behalf.

It’s remarkable really because if Jesus died sometime after 3:00; it would leave only a few short hours to remove Jesus from the cross, wash his body and carry him to the tomb.

So it is reasonable to assume that there was a lot of prior proper planning involved behind the actions of these men, namely the acquisition of the tomb and the burial supplies, which most likely took place beforehand.

There would not have been sufficient time to acquire the tomb and necessary items for Jesus’ burial in one afternoon, so we can venture safely to guess that the combination of their positions within realms of the Jewish political leadership, coupled together with their knowledge of the Scripture has lead them plan a prepare a place to lay Jesus after His death.

And we see two things come out of their actions 1. Their boldness and courage 2. Their unique and necessary actions on behalf of God

*Read v. 43*

Ambrose Redmoon said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than one's fear. The timid presume it is lack of fear that allows the brave to act when the timid do not. But to take action when one is not afraid is easy. To refrain when afraid is also easy. To take action regardless of fear is brave.”

When those closest to Jesus have faded into the shadows, we see Joseph of Arimethea appear on the scene, take courage and appear before Pilate, not only taking a chance at brushing up against the anger of the Roman leader, but also drawing the ire of his fellow council members within the Jewish ranks.

But he takes courage, and in doing so fulfills a unique role in the plans and purposes of God. David Guzik observes, “Joseph did not serve Jesus in many ways, but he did serve Him in ways no one else did or could. It was not possible for Peter, James, John, or even the many women who served Jesus to provide a tomb, but Joseph could and did. We must serve God in whatever way we can.”

So we see a unique display of boldness and courage from Joseph and , while we also a unique and necessary action on behalf of God. *Read vv. 45-47*

9 “ And [p]they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.” –Isaiah 53:9

Warren Wiersbe writes a fitting summary of these events, “It seems evident that God prepared these two men and directed them in their activities. Nicodemus had come to Jesus privately (John 3) and had even defended Him before the council (John 7:45–53). I believe that Joseph and Nicodemus searched the Scriptures together and discovered, led by the Spirit, that the Lamb would die at Passover. It is possible that they were hiding in the new tomb when Jesus died. It was a simple matter for Joseph to go to Pilate for permission to take the body, and for Nicodemus to guard the body until the official release was given. Had these men not acted boldly, the body of Jesus might have been disposed of like rubbish… It was important that His body be prepared for burial so that the empty graveclothes could be left behind in the tomb (John 20:1–10). Also, the way He was buried fulfilled (Isa. 53:9).” IV. Conclusion

• Associating with Jesus

“5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” –Romans 6:5

“Is there no holy chivalry in you? Can it be so, that, because God has dealt so well with you, and trusted you so generously, you will repay him by denying his Son, violating your conscience, and turning your back on truth; and all for the sake of being in the fashion? I know it may seem hard to receive the cold shoulder in society, or to have the finger of scorn pointed at you; but to bow before this selfish dread is scarcely worthy of a man, and utterly disgraceful to a Christian man.” –Charles Spurgeon

“If you are a secret disciple, believing without confessing, either your secrecy will destroy your discipleship, or your discipleship will destroy your secrecy.” –Alistair Begg