Mark 15:42Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Scriptures affirm that the duration was not a full three days: the latter part of the first day was accounted for, as was the earlier part of the third day; however, the second day was wholly complete, encompassing a full twenty-four hours, comprised of twelve hours of darkness and twelve hours of daylight. The Jewish leaders condemned Him to crucifixion at the third hour of the sixth day, just prior to the Sabbath. He was raised on the cross at the sixth hour and surrendered His spirit at the ninth hour (Cf. Matt. 27:23-50).

Yesterday, the Lamb was offered, and the joints were anointed, while Egypt wept for the firstborn, and the destroyer passed over us (cf. Ex. 12:1-30). The sacrificial knife evokes both awe and dread, and we are safeguarded by the precious blood. Today, we have at last departed from Egypt, the harsh oppressor Pharaoh, and the burdensome taskmasters, finding freedom from clay and brick-making (cf. Ex. 5). No one can hinder us from offering praise to the Lord our God during the feast of the Exodus. We celebrate not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (cf. 1 Cor. 5:8). Yesterday, I was crucified with Christ; today, I am glorified with Him. Yesterday, I died with Him; today, I have been made alive with Him. Yesterday, I was buried with Christ; today, I have risen with Him.

It is important to note that He endured suffering on the Great Sabbath. In doing so, He emphasized a Sabbath when death would be conquered by Christ. If the Jews observed the Sabbath, considering an entire month or year as a Sabbath, how much more should we revere the resurrection of the Lord!

According to the law of Moses, it was prohibited to bury a body that had been hanged on a tree after sunset, which meant no burial could occur after 6 o'clock in the evening (Deuteronomy 21:23). It is important to note that Joseph and the centurion would have needed approximately two hours for their return trip from Pilate's Praetorium to Golgotha, with an additional hour required for the burial itself. Jesus passed away at the beginning of the ninth Jewish hour, which corresponds to the first part of our hour. Thus, it is evident that the soldier's action occurred no later than 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and this was no more than thirty minutes following Jesus' death, at which point blood and water—the signs of His death—could flow from His pierced side.

As evening approached, arrangements were made to remove the bodies from the crosses in order to prevent them from hanging there during the Passover celebrations. At this time, a wealthy man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea, approached Pilate. He was a notable member of the Sanhedrin, described in Mark 15:42, known for his integrity and truthfulness. Joseph had not participated in the priests and Pharisees' plot against Jesus, nor had he taken part in the Sanhedrin meetings that led to the judgment of death, as noted by the Evangelist Luke in Luke 23:50-51. Although he was a follower of Jesus, he practiced his discipleship discreetly out of fear of persecution from the Sanhedrin, which threatened excommunication from the synagogues for open supporters of Jesus (John 19:38). Yet, he held a profound belief in the coming of God's kingdom. Joseph approached Pilate to request the body of Jesus for burial.

As the day came to an end, Saturday began with the setting sun: "and that Saturday was a great day," since Easter fell on that day. Careful measures were taken to remove the crosses, ensuring that no evidence of the horrific event remained for the joyous celebration. Consequently, the Jewish leaders requested Pilate to take down the bodies of those who were crucified. Wishing to avoid further aggravation of his perilous adversaries, Pilate obliged and dispatched soldiers to check on the crucified. If any were still alive, they were to shatter their legs to hasten their demise and enable burial. The soldiers broke the legs of only two criminals, but Christ had already expired.

As the sun descended towards the horizon, the time had arrived, roughly between three and six o'clock, which the Jews referred to as ערב - evening. With the approach of the sacred Sabbath, the Jewish leaders were reluctant to leave those who had been crucified on the crosses, prompting a sense of urgency. Once it was confirmed that the two robbers had died, their legs were broken, and their bodies were swiftly removed from the cross. It is likely that the same hands of the soldiers who had earlier elevated these bodies with ropes now hastily and carelessly discarded them onto the ground. In the event that there were righteous individuals among the Jews, they may have hurriedly placed these remains in designated burial sites for the condemned.

See the note on Matthew 27:57-61. Due to it being Friday, the day preceding the Sabbath, these words reveal why Joseph hurried to request the removal of Jesus’ body. The Sabbath rest commenced on Friday evening, during which no such actions could be undertaken, meaning the Lord’s body would have remained on the cross for an extended period. Notably, Joseph, as a member of the Sanhedrin, might have been aware that the leaders of the people had also petitioned Pilate for the same request for other reasons. Additionally, on that Friday evening, it was essential to consume the Passover lamb as it was the Feast of Passover; therefore, there could be no delay in performing this righteous act.