The land was filled with darkness from noon to 3 p.m. (Mark 15:33). It was as if heaven had dimmed the lights at the appalling sight of the Almighty Creator being killed by His sinful creatures (see Amos 8:9). Bearing the full weight of our sins, Jesus cried out loudly in Aramaic, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34; Psalm 22:1). He who always addressed His Father as “Abba” was now forced to stand on the side of sinful humanity and face the full consequences of sin— separation from God. Someone tried to offer him wine vinegar to dull His pain and quench His thirst (Mark 15:36; Psalm 69:21). Then, with a loud cry, Jesus died.

At that moment, the curtain in the temple that covered the Most Holy Place was “torn in two from top to bottom”, thus creating new access to the holy God (Mark 15:38; Hebrews 10:19–20). Before this, only the high priest was allowed to go beyond the curtain once a year. The priests who were ministering in the temple must have seen this unbelievable event; perhaps it was the reason why some time later, “a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). The Roman centurion who saw Jesus die was impressed: “Surely this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

Though all the male disciples (except John, see John 19:26) had run away, many women who followed Jesus were present. Among them were Mary Magdalene, another Mary, and Salome (Mark 15:40). Without swords and totally helpless, these women could only offer Jesus their teary presence—and they did so with courage and love.

As Sabbath was fast approaching, the burial had to be done before sunset. There was a man called Joseph of Arimathea who was a member of the Sanhedrin and a secret believer (v. 43; John 19:38); he had disagreed with his murderous colleagues when they sentenced Jesus to death (Luke 23:51). He now went boldly to Pilate and asked for permission to bury Jesus.

Together with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and most likely also a believer (John 3:1–8; 19:39–40), Joseph placed the body in a new tomb that belonged to him. This fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9, for Joseph was a rich man (see Matthew 27:57). A stone was rolled to block the entrance. And the two Marys noted where the tomb was. But why does Mark provide all these details? To prepare us for the events that followed.