Mark 15:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

NIV: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

NASB: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching to see where He was laid.

CSB: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.

NLT: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.

KJV: And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

NKJV: And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

Mary Magdalene and another Mary, the mother of James the less and Joses, were with several other women during the crucifixion. They follow Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19:39) to see where they will place Jesus' body. Although Nicodemus has brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39), the women intend to return and properly prepare Jesus for burial (Luke 23:56).

It is for this reason Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, Salome (Mark 16:1), and Joanna, with others, return to the tomb after the Sabbath (Luke 24:10). They wonder how they will roll away the stone, and are of course met with an empty tomb and an angel who explains that Jesus has risen from the dead (Mark 16:2–6). The angel tells them to report to the men. They do (Mark 16:6–7; Matthew 28:1–8), and Peter and John run to see the empty tomb (Luke 24:1–12; John 20:2–10). They leave again, but Mary Magdalene returns, distraught that Jesus' body is gone (John 20:11–18). Jesus approaches her, so healed from His ordeal that she doesn't recognize Him.

The first person Jesus will speak to is one of these women, an individual woman from whom Jesus had expelled seven demons (Luke 8:2). Now, however, she and a friend watch as Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:46) and Nicodemus (John 19:39) roll the stone on the grave of the one who was supposed to be king.

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.

After being unfairly judged, Jesus will now be unfairly sentenced and cruelly murdered. It's reasonable to say this chapter provides context for everything else contained in the Bible. From Adam and Eve until the last baby born in the millennial kingdom, every person other than Christ is stained with sin. Conscience, law, Jesus' direct leadership, even the indwelling of the Holy Spirit cannot keep us from sinning. Sinless Jesus had to die on the cross, sacrificing Himself in our place, so our sins could be forgiven and we could be reconciled to God. Beneath the violence, darkness, dishonor, and death is the love of God for all mankind (John 3:16). Jesus' crucifixion is also found in Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 19. The next chapter describes the miracle of His resurrection.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.