What does Mark 15:42 mean?
Twenty-four hours earlier, the disciples and Jesus were preparing for the Passover feast (Mark 14:12–21). Jesus had told them several times that the Jewish leadership would reject and kill Him (Mark 8:31; 9:30–32; 10:32–34), but at the Passover meal, they first learn that one of the Twelve would start the process by betraying Him.Now Jesus is dead. Before, the disciples didn't understand that Jesus really would die; now they don't understand He will rise again in three days. Instead of keeping vigil (Mark 14:41), they have gone into hiding. Jerusalem has celebrated the Passover, both the Galileans who ate the night before and the Judeans who ate that afternoon. Everyone is headed home to prepare for the Sabbath the next day. Soon, the three bodies hanging from their crosses will have only Roman guards for company.
Scholars debate mightily as to which Sabbath this is referring to. If it is the regular sundown-Friday to sundown-Saturday Sabbath, then Jesus is in the tomb parts of three days but only two nights (Matthew 12:40). However, the day after Passover, the first day of the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, is a holiday Sabbath during which no regular work is to be done (Leviticus 23:5–7). If there is any chance Jesus can have a proper burial, it must be done now.
Mark 15:42–47 occurs after Jesus has died, after six hours on the cross. His death is confirmed by a soldier who pierces His side with a spear, allowing blood and water to drain out onto the ground (John 19:33–34). Roman tradition would be to leave His body on the cross to be food for the birds, especially since He was technically crucified for treason. But Jewish law states leaving a hanged man overnight is a curse on the land (Deuteronomy 21:22–23), and a secret disciple has an unused tomb nearby. Jesus' burial is also recorded in Matthew 27:57–61, Luke 23:50–56, and John 19:38–42.
After sham trials, Jesus is taken to the local Roman governor, Pilate. This is the only person in Jerusalem with the legal authority to have Jesus executed. Pilate is not fooled, and he attempts to arrange for Jesus' release. But the ruler's ploys fail, in part because Jesus will not defend Himself, and partly because the mob is intent on His death. Pilate offers a prisoner exchange in Barabbas, and even has Jesus brutally beaten in order to pacify the crowd. Eventually, he caves in and Jesus is crucified. Thanks to His prior abuse, Jesus survives only a few hours on the cross before dying. Jesus is then buried in a tomb belonging to a secret follower among the Jerusalem council.
