The burial of Jesus is important ... because it establishes the gospel as historical (40-41, 47)
1. IT'S IMPORANT WE GET THIS
1.1. Christianity is a historical event, meaning it happened! It really occurred.
1.1.1. The message of the Christian faith, at one level, is no different than the story of any major historical event in our world.
1.1.2. And this is important - because it means the veracity of the message can be verified the same way we verify whether Brutus killed Julius Caesar, or how did Alexander the Greats empire crumble? These are researchable, verifiable - the are points in history that affect history.
1.1.3. The message of Jesus did not come as a dream, a message from an angel to an individual .. you can't verify that...
1.1.4. No - God did his work and weaved his story in the open
1.1.4.1. Jesus lived and died in Israel, an important output for control of power in the middle east
1.1.4.2. Jesus preached publically, Jesus performed miracles publically, Jesus was tried by Pilate publically, jesus was crucified publically.... very much so!!!!
2. All through this passage there are hints of Mark establishing the historocity of the death of Jesus.
2.1. Mark 15:40–41 (ESV) — 40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
2.2. WHO WERE THESE WOMEN?
2.2.1. These three becomes in some way the opposite of the 3 inner men disciples of jesus .. but these stay to the end, go to his burial, and see the resurrection
2.2.2. Note their ministry
2.2.2.1. They followed in Galilee, “cared for [Jesus’] needs,” and went up with him to Jerusalem. The only ones who cared for his needs are the angels (1: 13), Peter’s mother-in-law (1: 31), and these women, who will also serve his needs in death. Garland, David E.. Mark (The NIV Application Commentary Book 2) (p. 596). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
2.2.3. Mary Magdalene
2.2.3.1. All the gospels have her as teh 1st witness of the resurrection
2.2.3.2. Luke 8 - relased from severe demonic possession
2.2.4. Other mary
2.2.4.1. Mary mother of jesus making these his 1/2 brothers?
2.2.4.2. Mark 6:3 (ESV) — 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
2.2.5. Salome
2.2.5.1. Mother of of James and John
2.2.5.2. Matthew 27:56 (ESV) — 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. M
2.3. Names are given here ...
2.3.1. Very unusual in mark ... especially of women. In fact, this is the first time Mark actually mentions any women by name! Every other one is anonymous.
2.3.2. But here - he gives name to establish a footnote, a marker ... to say ... if you want to validate this, verify this... go and ask these women.
2.3.3. #1 - They're in Galilee ... go there ...
2.3.4. #2 - They have chidlren ... go and ask them
2.3.5. #3 - These women saw it all, saw it from the beginning to the end ...
2.3.5.1. Important because the question will be - did Jesus really defeat death? Did he really come back to life?
2.3.5.2. To demonstrate that you have to show that the tomb is empty, and to do taht you have to demonstrate you know which tomb! And that the body was actually there!
2.3.5.3. And mark is trying to establish this here...
2.3.5.3.1. The body really was dead
2.3.5.3.2. The body really was laid there
2.3.5.3.3. We saw it
2.3.5.3.4. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
2.3.6. So all of this is setting the historical evidence. Grounding the gospel
3. LISTEN - At the heart of it Christianit is not a novel idea. It's not a philosophical persuasion. Christianity is not some story we made up to tell ourselves, some analogy, to help cope with life.
3.1. At the heart of it Christianity is about a historical event, an event about a man name Jesus who was tried and crucified by the Romans and who, then was buried, and then after 3 days, rose again back to life.
3.2. And this is important .. becuase either what we believe is true or it is not. There's no in between. Eitehr jEsus died and was then rose again or he did not ... and the burial of Jesus helps us evaluate that
3.3. And what that means is if it was not historical - there's no moral value, there's no value proposition in it. We're wasting our time, we are of all men to be pitied.
3.3.1. History matters.
3.3.2. We don't just get to say - the holy spirit told us
3.3.3. We don't just say some prophet had a dream or a visitiation from an angel
3.3.4. Our faith is based on something that happened and if it did not happen, then our faith is based on nothing... nothing....
3.3.4.1. ... then you are free, don't let the bible and the gospel adn the message and the cross control your life if it's not historical
3.3.4.2. I mean no one goes around and analyzes hercules and think --- how should I do my marriage?
3.3.4.3. No one goes home and sweats the .. how do i tell my neighbor about Achilles.. oh man
3.3.4.4. You don't hear of someone hearting and think.. they just need so badly,... come to our gathering.. to hear about the flight of Itichus
3.3.4.5. Right?
3.4. But ... but if Jesus really did say what he said about himself, and then if he really did die, and if he really did breaks the laws that govern this world - death - .. if he did that as he said he did ...
3.4.1. then it's different right?
3.4.2. Then maybe ti's true .. we are accountable to im, we owe him our life, we belong to him...
3.4.3. YOu see ... this is really important...
3.4.3.1. And let me say --- this is really important because sometimes we get so discoruaged, god feels so far .. so distant... we want to know God .. and seek this moment... tis touch... this
3.4.3.2. and i'm all for that ...
3.4.3.3. but at the end of the day ... even f we don't feel it .. we are compelled to it because the history of it is what matters. it 's real!