42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid
Question 1
What do you think the women were thinking as they came to the grave?
Question 2
What is striking about Pilate’s response to Jesus’ death?
If the book of Mark had ended with Jesus’ death, it wouldn’t really be good news, but a story of a special man who did and said many amazing things, and was killed for it. But that’s not the end of the story.
A man named Joseph asks Pilate for the right to bury Jesus’ body. So with respect and love Joseph gently wraps it in material and places it in a grave.
After the Sabbath day finished, some of the women following Jesus came to the grave. They wanted to do one last loving act for their King by putting perfumes on his body that would keep him from smelling. They weren’t really sure how they could move the heavy stone that closed the grave, and to their great surprise, upon arriving at the place they saw that the grave was already open. The surprise turns into fear as they enter the grave and see an angel. They were looking for a dead body, and the angel tells them that Jesus has come back to life! This is what Jesus had tried to explain over and over again! They didn’t have to be afraid or sad as he died, because he was going to rise from the grave. As King Jesus rose in victory over death, he was proving that all he had said was true. But it also showed that God had accepted his sacrifice; and in the same way Jesus rose from the grave to eternal life there is a certainty that every one who puts his faith in him will also rise in order to spend eternity with him in the presence of the Father.
Question 3
In what ways does Jesus’ resurrection give us assurance?
Question 4
Think again about everything you have learned about King Jesus. Do you love him, and want to follow him every day of your life?
Pray
for faith to believe that Jesus not only died in order to receive the punishment for your sin, but that he was resurrected in order to give you life as well.
