Mark 15:42

KJV

¶ And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} now {G2235} when the even {G3798} was come {G1096}, because {G1893} it was {G2258} the preparation {G3904}, that {G3603} is {G2076}, the day before the sabbath {G4315},

Complete Jewish Bible

Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before a Shabbat), as evening approached,

Berean Standard Bible

Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),

American Standard Version

And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 15:42 meticulously establishes the precise timing for the removal of Jesus' body from the cross, highlighting the urgency driven by the imminent arrival of the Sabbath. This verse serves as a critical transition, bridging the narrative from the crucifixion to the burial, underscoring the Jewish custom of preparing for the Sabbath by sunset, which necessitated immediate action concerning the deceased.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the profoundly impactful account of Jesus' death on the cross in [Mark 15:37-39](/mark/15-37-39 "Mark 15:37-39 - The Death of Jesus"). The centurion's confession of Jesus' divine Sonship ([Mark 15:39](/mark/15-39 "Mark 15:39 - The Centurion's Confession")) marks the climax of the crucifixion narrative. Mark 15:42 then shifts the focus from the public spectacle of the cross to the private, yet essential, act of burial. It sets the scene for Joseph of Arimathea's courageous request for Jesus' body in [Mark 15:43](/mark/15-43 "Mark 15:43 - Joseph of Arimathea's Request"), demonstrating the immediate practical concerns that arose following such a public execution, especially given the strictures of Jewish law regarding the dead.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** According to Jewish law, particularly as derived from [Deuteronomy 21:22-23](/deuteronomy/21-22-23 "Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - Law Concerning a Hanged Man"), a body could not remain exposed overnight, especially if executed. Furthermore, the Jewish day began at sunset. Thus, "when the even was come" signifies the approach of Friday sunset, which marked the beginning of the Sabbath. The phrase "preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath" (Greek: _paraskeuē_) explicitly identifies Friday, the day on which all necessary work and preparations for the Sabbath (which began at sunset and lasted until Saturday sunset) had to be completed. This particular Friday was not only the weekly preparation day but also the preparation for a "high Sabbath," as it immediately preceded the Passover Sabbath, making the urgency for burial even more acute to avoid defiling the holy day.
* **Key Themes:** The verse contributes to several key themes within the Gospel of Mark. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Timing and Sovereignty**, showing how even the mundane details of burial align with a larger divine plan, ensuring that Jesus' death and burial occur precisely before the Sabbath, setting the stage for the resurrection on the first day of the week. Secondly, it highlights the **Observance of Law and Custom**, even in the face of profound tragedy, demonstrating the meticulous adherence to Jewish legal requirements concerning the dead and the sanctity of the Sabbath, as commanded in [Exodus 20:8](/exodus/20-8 "Exodus 20:8 - Remember the Sabbath Day"). Finally, it marks a **Transition from Death to Burial**, serving as a narrative bridge that moves the story from the agonizing hours on the cross to the quiet, private act of interment, which is a necessary precursor to the triumphant resurrection, a theme central to the entirety of [Mark's Gospel](/mark/1 "The Gospel According to Mark").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **come (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This verb signifies "to come into being," "to happen," or "to become." In this context, it denotes the arrival or occurrence of the evening, marking a significant temporal shift. It's not merely that evening "was" there, but that it "had come to pass," emphasizing the transition of time and the imminence of the Sabbath.
* **because (Greek, _epeí'_):** This conjunction introduces a causal clause, explaining the reason for the urgency. The impending arrival of the Sabbath is the direct cause for the immediate action required concerning Jesus' body. It highlights the legal and religious necessity driving the narrative forward.
* **preparation (Greek, _paraskeuḗ'_):** This noun literally means "readiness" or "preparation." In the New Testament, it specifically refers to Friday, the day before the Sabbath, when Jews would complete all necessary work and prepare meals and other necessities so they could rest fully on the Sabbath. Its inclusion here is crucial for understanding the strict timeline and the actions that follow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And now when the even was come":** This phrase establishes the temporal setting, indicating that the time was late afternoon, approaching sunset. In Jewish reckoning, a new day began at sunset, meaning the Sabbath was only a short time away. This immediately signals a sense of urgency for any necessary actions to be completed before the holy day commenced.
* **"because it was the preparation":** This clause provides the critical reason for the immediate concern. "Preparation" (Greek: _paraskeuē_) refers to Friday, the day designated for preparing for the Sabbath. All work, including the handling and burial of the dead, had to be finished before sunset on this day.
* **"that is, the day before the sabbath":** This explanatory phrase clarifies the meaning of "preparation" for the audience, ensuring full understanding of its significance. It explicitly links the "preparation day" to the weekly Sabbath, reinforcing the religious and legal imperative to conclude all activities before the sacred day of rest began.

#### Literary Devices
Mark employs several literary devices in this concise verse. **Chronological Detail** is paramount, as the precise timing ("when the even was come," "the day before the sabbath") is crucial for the unfolding narrative and the subsequent events of the resurrection. This meticulous detail lends historical authenticity and underscores the fulfillment of divine timing. The use of **Explanatory Parenthesis** ("that is, the day before the sabbath") clarifies the term "preparation" for the reader, ensuring that the cultural and religious significance of the timing is fully understood, particularly for a Gentile audience. Furthermore, the verse functions as a subtle form of **Foreshadowing** by establishing the temporal framework that will later be essential for understanding the timing of the resurrection "on the third day" (or "after three days"), which occurs after the Sabbath rest.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 15:42, while seemingly a mere detail of timing, carries profound theological weight. It underscores the reality of Jesus' human death—that His body, like any other, required proper handling and burial according to the prevailing customs and laws. This adherence to Jewish law, even in the midst of the greatest cosmic event, highlights God's meticulous attention to detail and the orderly unfolding of His redemptive plan. The urgency dictated by the Sabbath preparation emphasizes the historical rootedness of the crucifixion within a specific cultural and religious context, preventing any notion of a mythical or ethereal death. It also subtly points to the divine orchestration that ensures Jesus' burial precedes the Sabbath, setting the stage for His resurrection on the first day of the week, thereby transforming the day after the Sabbath into the Lord's Day.

* [Deuteronomy 21:22-23](/deuteronomy/21-22-23 "Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - Law Concerning a Hanged Man")
* [Luke 23:54](/luke/23-54 "Luke 23:54 - The Preparation Day")
* [John 19:31](/john/19-31 "John 19:31 - The Jews Ask for Bodies to be Removed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 15:42, though brief, offers a powerful reminder that even in the darkest hours of human history, God's sovereign plan unfolds with precision and purpose. The meticulous adherence to the "preparation day" for the Sabbath, even amidst the profound grief and chaos surrounding Jesus' death, speaks to the enduring importance of order, law, and sacred time. For us today, it encourages us to recognize that God works through established patterns and human realities, even when they seem mundane or secondary to grander events. It challenges us to consider how we observe rhythms of rest and preparation in our own lives, and how we honor sacred times and principles, even when circumstances are difficult. This verse also implicitly reminds us that the "preparation" for something great often precedes its manifestation; just as the preparation for the Sabbath preceded the rest, so too Jesus' death and burial were a necessary "preparation" for the glorious resurrection.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the emphasis on the "preparation day" in this verse deepen your understanding of the historical reality of Jesus' death and burial?**
* **In what ways might the adherence to religious customs and laws, even in a moment of great tragedy, speak to the enduring nature of God's order?**
* **How can understanding the "preparation" for the Sabbath inform our own practices of preparing for sacred times or significant events in our lives?**

### FAQ

**Why was it so urgent to remove Jesus' body from the cross?**

Answer: The urgency stemmed from two primary reasons rooted in Jewish law and custom. First, [Deuteronomy 21:22-23](/deuteronomy/21-22-23 "Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - Law Concerning a Hanged Man") stipulated that the body of an executed person could not remain exposed overnight, lest it defile the land. Second, the day Jesus died was "the preparation," meaning Friday, the day before the Sabbath. According to Jewish reckoning, the new day (the Sabbath) began at sunset. All work, including handling the dead, had to be completed before the Sabbath commenced, as no work was permitted on the holy day. This particular Sabbath was also a "high Sabbath" because it coincided with Passover, making the observance even more stringent. Thus, time was of the essence to ensure the body was buried before sunset.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 15:42, by meticulously detailing the timing of Jesus' burial, subtly yet profoundly points to His Christ-centered fulfillment. The fact that Jesus' body was removed and buried on the "preparation day," just before the Sabbath, is not a mere historical detail but a divinely orchestrated element of His redemptive work. His death and subsequent burial on Friday ensured that He would spend the Sabbath in the tomb, fulfilling the prophetic "rest" before His glorious resurrection. This timing sets the stage for the triumphant declaration that He rose "on the third day" ([Luke 24:46](/luke/24-46 "Luke 24:46 - The Christ Must Suffer and Rise")), or "after three days" ([Mark 8:31](/mark/8-31 "Mark 8:31 - Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection")), breaking the power of death and sin. The "day before the sabbath" thus becomes the final moment of the old covenant's shadow, preceding the dawn of the new creation inaugurated by Christ's victory over the grave on the first day of the week, which would become the Lord's Day ([Revelation 1:10](/revelation/1-10 "Revelation 1:10 - The Lord's Day")). His burial, constrained by the Sabbath, underscores the reality of His human death, making His subsequent resurrection all the more powerful as the ultimate sign of God's triumph and the promise of new life for all who believe ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried with Christ Through Baptism")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 23:50

¶ And, behold, [there was] a man named Joseph, a counsellor; [and he was] a good man, and a just:

Luke 23:56

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

John 19:38

¶ And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

John 19:42

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation [day]; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Matthew 27:57

¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

Matthew 27:62

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

John 19:31

¶ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away.