QT 2/8/2024 Mark 15:42-47, More threatening historical facts

Mark 15:42–47 (ESV) —

42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

 

NOTE: As to the "swoon" theory, that is not a new thought or something the Romans forgot to check. When the big guy asks if he is dead already, you make sure he is dead already before answering. This is probably what caused the Centurion to put the spear up into the body from the lower abdomen into the heart. The Romans were very experienced at crucifying people. They knew all the tricks. And they knew if you pierced into the heart you would see copious amounts of water and blood rush out. Jesus was certainly dead. There was no swooning. No, the only explanation for his being alive on Sunday was that he had risen from the dead. He is the first and he is the promise that we too will have new bodies and we will also arise from the dead. There is no other explanation except the checking of a person's brain at the door in order to deny the facts.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I willing to consider the historical facts?
2. Or are the facts too threatening to consider?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have a sure salvation. Jesus' death, the burial, and the resurrection, and the eyewitnesses cannot be ignored. You have done the impossible.