Jesus' Body Given to Joseph of Arimathaea - Mark 15:45

When Jesus was crucified, Mark wrote how, “Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead”, and in chapter fifteen and verse forty-five of his book, Mark shared how, “the centurion … gave the body to Joseph” where we read:

And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

The verse reads, “And when he knew it of the centurion, ...” Mark began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “he knew it” which means “Pilate learned, understood, perceived and had knowledge” “of the centurion” or “from the officer in the Roman army who was captain of one hundred soldiers”. Mark shared when Pilate understood what the “centurion” said about Jesus actually being dead.

The verse continues, “... he gave the body to Joseph.” Mark added the words, “he gave the body” or “Pilate granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied Jesus' physical body” “to Joseph” which means “to Joseph of Arimathaea whose name means let him add”. Mark shared how Pilate “granted” the body of Jesus to “Joseph of Arimathaea” after learning that Jesus was actually dead.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Pilate responded to the information verified through the “centurion”. After learning that Jesus was actually dead, Pilate allowed “Joseph of Arimathaea” to have Jesus' body. God knew all these details about Jesus' crucifixion, dead and release of His body to Joseph, and because His plan was to “save” people from their sins, God's plan was fulfilled. When a person believes and trusts in Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they receive forgiveness for their sins and “everlasting life” with God.

Next time Mark shares how Joseph, “bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher ”, 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".