What Old Testament practices relate to the women's actions in Mark 16:1? Mark 16:1 – What the Women Did “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint Jesus’ body.” Old Testament Roots of Anointing the Dead • Genesis 50:2–3, 26 – Joseph’s body “was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt,” showing an early practice of treating a corpse with aromatic substances. • 2 Chronicles 16:14 – At Asa’s burial “they laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and made a great fire in his honor.” • 2 Chronicles 21:19; Jeremiah 34:5 – Spices burned for royal burials, reflecting reverence and mourning. • John 19:39 cites Nicodemus bringing “a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds” for Jesus—mirroring the precedent set in these passages. Spices and Sacred Fragrance in Worship • Exodus 30:22-33 – The holy anointing oil (myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia, olive) consecrated priests and the tabernacle. • Exodus 30:34-38 – Incense blended from stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense was “most holy.” The women draw on these familiar aromas. What had signified holiness in tabernacle worship now honors the Holy One in death. Waiting Until the Sabbath Was Past • Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3 – Sabbath rest commanded: no work, even for acts of devotion. • Isaiah 58:13 – “Call the Sabbath a delight … not going your own way.” The women’s purchase after sunset shows faithful obedience; their love never overrides the Law God gave. Touching a Corpse and Ritual Impurity • Numbers 19:11-12 – Touching the dead brings seven-day uncleanness. Their readiness to bear this impurity underscores sacrificial devotion. Love accepts temporary defilement to honor the Lord. Burial as Covenant Kindness • Genesis 23; 47:29-30 – Abraham and later Jacob insist on proper burial in Canaan; covenant faithfulness includes honorable interment. • 2 Samuel 2:4-6 – David blesses those who buried Saul: “May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness.” The women act in this stream of covenant kindness—ḥesed—toward Jesus. Foreshadowing the Messiah’s Burial and Resurrection • Isaiah 53:9 – “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death.” • Psalm 16:10 – “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.” Their spice-bearing journey fulfills Scripture’s expectation of His burial, setting the stage for the empty tomb they are about to discover. Summary Old Testament practice shaped every detail of Mark 16:1: —Spices and anointing oils linked to both holiness and burial. —Strict Sabbath observance honored God’s command. —Willingness to incur impurity revealed covenant loyalty. Through these women, the patterns of Scripture converge at the moment when the Lord of Scripture is about to rise, turning burial customs into resurrection testimony. |
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