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NASB | Mark 15:42 ¶ When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Mark 15:42 ¶ When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, [Deut 21:22, 23; Matt 27:57-61; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42] |
Subject: Exactly what does Mark 15:42 mean |
Bible Note: Lol Biblical maps are fine as far as they go but in many cases they are guesses. The village of Bethany on the far slopes of the mount of olives farthest from Jerusalem is 15 furlongs 'from Jerusalem', and if we have identified the correct village we know where it is. But has the correct village been identified? But Jesus ascended from 'over against Bethany', in a place which was stated to be a sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem. And it was probably the place where Jesus and His followers were encamped. It was in the district of Bethany around Bethany. Thus when He went 'from Bethany' it was from the camp. That means it was a sabbath days journey from Jerusalem. Thus Jesus could go to the Temple on the Sabbath. You must, however, recognise that geographical information has to be gleaned from the Bible and from Archaeology. And the danger is that many identifications were made by later church teachers without accurate information to go on. There is no sign which says 'this place was called Bethany in 1st century AD'. Our guesses may therefore be incorrect. Far more reliable is the Biblical information which says that Bethany was 15 furlongs 'from Jerusalem'), but we must then ask, from what point in Jerusalem? It was certainly not 15 furlongs from the furthest outskirts of Jerusalem. Indeed what would be described as the furthest outskirts of Jerusalem? I used to travel a road to work which said 4 miles to Leeds. But I lived in Leeds!! Thus I lived four miles from where I lived lol. Thus to measure the distance from the Temple to the district of Bethany on the basis of Biblical information we have to ask what are the criteria. And the truth is that we do not know. We only know that it was a sabbath days journey from the camp of Jesus on the mount of olives in the district of Bethany. I would rather accept Luke's testimony than any map. Did you know that in the first edition of the New Bible Dictionary they included maps. You won't find maps in the current edition. Why not? Because they were treated with derision by many scholars and withdrawn. Our knowledge of the geography of Jerusalem in 1st century AD is patchy, because we only get information when a Gospel writer decides to give it. We know a few facts and that is all. For example we have no idea where Bethphage was. The makers of maps do their best to guess right. But I would not stake my life (or my beliefs) on them. |