When Jesus was crucified, Mark wrote how, “Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome. (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus”, and in chapter fifteen and verse forty-four of his book, Mark shared how, “Pilate marveled if he were already dead” where we read:
And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion,
he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
The verse reads, “And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, ...” Mark began with the words, “and Pilate” or “the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified whose name means armed with a spear” “marveled if he were already dead” which means “wondered and admired that Jesus was even now no longer living, breathless and inanimate”: “and calling unto him” or “and summoning and bidding to Pilate himself” “the centurion” which means “the officer in the Roman army who was captain of one hundred soldiers”. Mark shared how Pilate was “amazed” that Jesus was “dead” so soon, so he “summoned” the “centurion” who oversaw the crucifixion of Jesus.
The verse goes on to say, “... he asked him whether he had been any while dead.” Mark continued with the words, “he asked him” or “Pilate questioned and inquired of the centurion” “whether he had been any while dead” which means “if it was true that Jesus was already expired and lifeless”. Mark shared how Pilate “questioned” the “centurion” as to whether Jesus was actually “dead”.
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how “Pilate” responded to “Joseph of Arimathaea's” request for Jesus' body. He wondered whether Jesus was actually “dead” because it was less time than usual for one to die upon the cross. Pilate questioned the “centurion” who oversaw the crucifixion of Jesus to verify that Jesus was dead before he would release Jesus' body to Joseph. This part of the story of Jesus dying was also God's plan for providing “salvation” to mankind. God desired to have a personal relationship with every person, and sin separated people from Him. When Jesus died, He paid the price for the sins of the world, and now everyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and inherit “everlasting life” with God. Jesus indeed was “dead”, and His death brought “life” to all who yield their lives to Him as “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Mark shares how, “the centurion … gave the body to Joseph”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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