Mark 15:42 - When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

Generated Verse: Mark 15:42

What does "Mark 15:42" mean?


This verse, Mark 15:42, is explaining the timing of Jesus' crucifixion and burial in relation to the Jewish Sabbath. Let's break it down:

"When evening had now come...": This indicates it was getting late in the afternoon. Jewish days were reckoned from evening to evening, not midnight to midnight.

"...because it was the Preparation Day...": "Preparation Day" refers to the day before the Sabbath. It was the day when Jewish people would make preparations for the Sabbath, since work was prohibited during the Sabbath. This included cooking food and completing any necessary errands.

"...that is, the day before the Sabbath...": This is a clarification for Mark's audience, which included both Jewish and Gentile believers. He explicitly explains that the "Preparation Day" is simply the day before the Sabbath.

In summary, the verse means that it was late afternoon on Friday, the day before the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday). This timing is crucial because Jewish law required burial to take place before the Sabbath began at sunset. Therefore, Jesus needed to be taken down from the cross and buried quickly before the Sabbath started. This urgency explains why Joseph of Arimathea acted promptly to request Jesus' body and bury it.

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