September 21st, 2024

This Sunday is “The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.” The Gospel reading continues where it left off last week, at Mark 9:30-37, and that will be the tradition for the next few weeks.

In the writings of this website, we are also continuing on where we left off last week. And this week we are finishing up the remainder of what has been called chapter fifteen of the Gospel according to Mark.

In last week’s writings of this website, Jesus had just died. The immediate reaction was noted. There was the reaction of the temple, with the curtain being torn into two. There was the reaction of the centurion, calling Jesus the Son of God, a significant title to say the least. And there were the women who were following from a distance. They were watching what was happening, and at least some of their names will come up again when there is the resurrection (spoiler alert).

The following paragraphs in italics is a somewhat-literal translation of Mark 15:42-47 (this type of translation is designed to point out the word order within the original text; the closer a word is to the beginning of the sentence, the more important it is; it will probably be helpful to look at the text in other translations and/or in a study bible):

And already evening, having happened, since it was Preparation, which is pro-Sabbath; having come, Joseph, the one from Arimathea, well-formed councilor, who also himself, he was waiting for the kingdom of the God, having dared, he came into, toward the Pilate, and he asked for himself the body of the Jesus.

Now the Pilate marveled whether already he has died, and having called to himself the centurion, he asked him whether already he died. And having come to know from the centurion, he granted the corpse to the Joseph.

And having bought a linen cloth, having taken down him, he wrapped in the linen cloth, and he put him in a tomb which was, having been cut out of rock, and he rolled towards, a stone, against the doorway of the tomb. Now the Mary, the Magdalene, and Mary, the one of Joses, they were beholding where he has been placed.

If you have been following these writings, you probably have noted the difference that is made with the so-called ‘historical presents’ in the text. That is when one of the past tense verbs is expected, but a present tense is given. Since there is not much text left to study—although the longer text will be studied as well---the historical presents within the Gospel according to Mark will be compared to the other accounts in the remaining Sundays before the start of the next church year.

With the text that is above, it could be said that there is still a prominence given to Jesus. His body is dead; that is for sure. This is to make sure that Jesus had just not passed out or fainted. And it is the women (who are named) to make sure that they knew where the corpse had been placed.​

Bodies usually do not come back to life. But God can do anything he wants. And he wants to save. And it should not be a problem if he saves in a way in which we would not expect.