Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. Mark 15:37
In almost every instance, death and burial represent finality. They represent the end of a life on this earth. To all observing Jesus' death on the cross and later burial, it looked as if the end of His life and ministry had come. At this time, no one expected His resurrection three days later.
Mark 15 recounts the story of Jesus' death and burial. As His death was approaching, the sky grew black. Jesus made a number of significant statements that we have been discussing in these daily devotionals over the last several weeks. Then, finally, He breathed His last breath. He was pronounced dead. A wealthy man named Joseph asked Pilate, the governor at the time, for permission to take Jesus' body and bury it in his tomb. This may seem strange, but at the time, very wealthy people would purchase their own tomb to ensure that they would have a proper place for themselves and their loved ones to be buried. Pilate gave Joseph permission to take Jesus' body and bury Him. Joseph took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped His body up in cloth, and took a stone to cover the tomb's entrance. At this moment, I imagine that everyone observing the situation felt the seeming finality of the situation. Jesus had been pronounced dead, wrapped in traditional burial cloth, and put in a tomb that was closed off by a large stone.
Yes, we know that the story certainly does not end there because, in three days, Jesus would rise from the dead. If we rush too quickly to the resurrection, however, we will miss the fact that our sin had a great cost to Jesus. Our sin cost Him His life. It caused Him to die a painful death meant only for criminals because He would rather undergo excruciating physical and emotional pain than be separated from you forever because of your sin. He did it for you. His love for you is wild and extravagant.
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.
This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.
