Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 15:44
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.If the place of the crucifixion was the skull-shaped hill mentioned earlier, even an ordinary messenger in the employ of the governor could have covered the distance in less than five minutes; so the time factor here is of no great importance. Pilate's surprise was due to the fact that crucifixion was designed as a slow death; and for Jesus to have been dead so... read more
Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 15:43
There came Joseph of Arimathea, a councilor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.Again in the history of God's people, the Lord raised up a Joseph to meet some crisis. When the nation of the chosen people were threatened with famine, God sent Joseph ahead of them to sit next to the throne of Egypt and prepare the way before them. When the Christ child was an infant, it was the strong arm of... read more