OIA 15.42-16.8

Observations
• Who: Joseph of Arimathea; Pilate; centurion; two Marys, Salome, young man, Jesus of Nazareth
• When: Friday after Jesus’ death; Sunday morning
• Where: before Pilate, at the tomb
• What: Joseph buries Jesus; women visit the empty tomb
• Repeated words: dead; tomb; body; stone; linen; amazed;
• Contrasts: laid in the tomb/not here; tell/said nothing; graveyard/Galilee; council’s murder/Joseph’s courage
• Connections: centurion confirms Jesus’ death; women who watched crucifixion; disciples are still absent; Jesus of Nazareth (1.24 by the cast out demon; 10.47 where Bartimaeus heard…)
• Responses to Jesus: Joseph risks his life to honor Jesus’ body; women honor Jesus’; young man relays Jesus’ instructions to meet in Galilee

Interpretation
• The repetition of dead/tomb, Pilate’s question, the centurion’s testimony, and the women’s visit to anoint give overwhelming evidence that Jesus is really dead. This sets the stage for the empty tomb and Jesus’ return to his mission to proclaim the kingdom of God post-resurrection.
• Mark gives us evidence of faith even after Jesus’ seeming failure. Joseph intentionally declares his commitment to Jesus by his request to Pilate. This visit took some time – Joseph had to wait while Pilate questioned the centurion. And the women, whose discipleship was highlighted in 15.40-41, are again demonstrating their understanding of servanthood. And it is worth noting that again Mark seems to define discipleship and faith as proximity to Jesus.
• Mark seems almost to skip over the resurrection itself. The emphasis of this section is on Jesus’ invitation to follow him and on the interplay between faith and fear.
• The young man specifically mentions Peter. Jesus has not abandoned Peter even though Peter denied him. The raised Jesus offers forgiveness and renewed relationship and purpose to Peter and to the disciples.
• Women are the ones given the full gospel, the good news of God having raised Jesus, and that continued servanthood and faithfulness is invited. Why are these women chosen as the first to proclaim this full message of the kingdom of God? In their cultural context women were not considered legal witnesses and could not testify in court. Why then are they given the mandate to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples and Peter? To those who have, more is given; these women have demonstrated faithful ministry to Jesus for several years, and are here at the tomb to honor him. They represent the least of these, the last who have become first.
• And yet they are terrified, flee, and disobey the young man’s instructions. Jesus’ resurrection invitation requires the same faith, and the same battle with fear as has been seen all through Mark’s narrative.
• Mark intentionally ends his narrative with amazement and fear. This ending fits perfectly with Mark’s depiction of Jesus’ invitation to follow him in faith. Mark’s Gospel concludes with an invitation to respond to Jesus. Jesus has returned to Galilee to continue proclaiming God’s kingdom. Will you follow him?

Application
• Meet Jesus in Galilee and follow him.