Mary Magdalene and Jesus' Mother Watching - Mark 15:47

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 when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher”, and in chapter fifteen and verse forty-seven of his book, Mark shared how how, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid” where we read:

And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

The verse reads, “And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses ...” Mark began with the words, “and Mary Magdalene” or “a woman from Magdala whose name means their rebellion and a tower” “and Mary the mother of Joses” which means “the female progenitor and ancestor of James whose name means supplanter. This Mary was the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus and sister to the virgin Mary”. Mark shared how “Mary Magdalene and Mary who was Jose's mother” were among the women who did did what Mark declares next.

The verse continues, “... beheld where he was laid.” Mark added the word, “beheld” or “saw, looked at, and perceived” “where he was laid” which means “the location that Jesus' body was put and set in place”. Mark shared how “Mary Magdalene and Mary” observed the location of the sepulcher where Jesus' body was placed.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how the women who were watching Jesus while He was dying upon the cross were now observing where Joseph of Arimathaea laid His body. There will be more shared concerning their knowledge of this location, but suffice it for now to know that God had a plan for these women. Jesus was to be raised from the dead on the third day after His death, and as we shall learn, these women were the first to know. When God's plan unfolded even as He predicted through prophesies in the Holy Scriptures, mankind was given the opportunity to be forgiven for their sins, have a relationship with Almighty God the Father and to inherit “everlasting life” with Him. Those who receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will discover that in “death” He paid the penalty for their sins, and in the resurrection, “eternal” life with God was now possible for all who believe.

Next time we begin the final chapter in Mark and see him share how, “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him”, 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".