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Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 340

Acts 5:4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Acts 5:4"

Day 340 – Mark 15

“While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:4

GREAT CARE OF THE DECEASED

From antiquity, Israel practised great care for the deceased. Mourning for the dead was a practice that may be traced all the way back to the days of the patriarchs (Cf. Genesis 25:7-11).

CARE FOR THE BODY OF JESUS

Joseph of Arimathea was a man of means. He determined that he would do all in his power to care for the body of Jesus entrusted to him.

“Then he brought fine linen, took Him down,
and wrapped Him in the linen.
And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock,
And rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.”
MARK 15:46

1. Fine linen

Among other things, crucifixion was designed to shame the criminal. The individual would be stripped of his clothes, a symbol of his personal dignity. Joseph brought fine linen to dress Jesus!

2. Took him down and wrapped him in the linen

How tenderly this must have been done! How the heart must have been wrenched to see Jesus in this state! Lovingly, Joseph of Arimathea saw to the wrapping of Jesus with fine linen.

3. Laid Him in a tomb hewn out of a rock

Even this general description of this tomb would inform us that this abode of the dead belonged to a person of considerable wealth.

a) A tomb hewn out of a rock would have been costly to make.
b) A stone to cover the mouth of the cave would deter any grave robber.

FULFILMENT OF ANOTHER ANCIENT PROPHECY

We are reminded of a prophetic text found in Isaiah.

“And 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

THE FAITHFUL WOMEN FOLLOWERS

The two Maries observed very carefully all these proceedings (Mark 15:47).