November 17th, 2025
by Brent Walker
by Brent Walker
Summary: The sermon explored Mark 15:40-47, revealing why the Apostle Paul considered the burial of Jesus to be "of first importance" alongside His death and resurrection. Through the testimony of three witnesses—the faithful women, the Roman professionals, and the courageous servant—we saw that Jesus truly died, was truly buried, and therefore can truly offer us forgiveness and new life. This account isn't just historical documentation; it's a prophetic fulfillment, a doctrinal foundation, and a call to live our faith publicly and courageously.
Takeaways:
Devotionals:
Day 1: The Courage to Serve Publicly
Reading: Mark 15:42-47
Devotional:
Joseph of Arimathea faced a defining moment. As a secret disciple among the religious elite, revealing his faith could cost him everything—reputation, position, security. Yet when Jesus died, Joseph chose courage over comfort. He publicly asked Pilate for Jesus' body and provided his own tomb. His private faith became public service.
We all face moments that test whether we'll acknowledge Christ openly or hide our faith for convenience. Joseph reminds us that following Jesus is not a private affair—it's a public commitment. What areas of your life keep your faith hidden? Where is God calling you to step forward courageously? Remember Jesus' words: whoever is ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of before the Father. True discipleship requires taking up our cross publicly, trusting that what we lose for Christ's sake, we gain eternally.
Day 2: Faithful in the Ordinary
Reading: Luke 8:1-3; Mark 15:40-41, 47
Devotional:
While the disciples hid in fear, faithful women remained. They had followed Jesus throughout His ministry, serving Him with their resources and presence. Now, in His darkest hour, they didn't abandon Him. They watched His crucifixion from a distance and witnessed His burial. Their faithfulness wasn't dramatic—they simply did what love required.
God often works through ordinary, unnoticed faithfulness rather than spectacular acts. These women remind us that consistent, quiet service matters deeply to God. They ministered to Jesus in life and death, and God rewarded their faithfulness by making them the first witnesses of the resurrection. Your daily acts of service, your persistent prayers, your steady presence in someone's life—these aren't insignificant. God sees, God remembers, and God uses faithful servants to accomplish His purposes. Where can you show faithful, ordinary service today?
Day 3: Buried with Christ
Reading:*Romans 6:1-11
Devotional:
Paul declares that through baptism, we are buried with Christ. This isn't merely symbolic ritual—it represents a profound spiritual reality. When we come to faith, our old self dies and is buried. The person enslaved to sin, separated from God, controlled by the flesh—that person goes into the grave with Jesus.
But burial isn't the end. Just as Christ rose from the dead, we rise to walk in newness of life. The same power that raised Jesus from the tomb now works in us. This means our past doesn't define us. Our failures are buried. Our shame is dead. We are new creations with new identities, new purposes, and new power to live righteously.
Today, remember what's been buried. Stop digging up what God has put to death. Instead, walk in the reality of your resurrection life. You are no longer who you were. Live like it.
#Day 4: The Certainty of His Death
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Devotional:
Paul emphasizes the burial of Jesus as "of first importance." Why? Because burial confirms death. The Roman professionals certified Jesus was truly dead. The women witnessed where He was laid. The tomb was sealed and guarded. Jesus didn't merely swoon or fake His death—He truly died.
This certainty matters profoundly. If Jesus didn't truly die, our sins aren't truly forgiven. If His death wasn't real, neither is our salvation. But the witnesses confirm: Jesus died completely. And because His death was real, His resurrection was miraculous. Because He truly bore our sins to death, we can truly be freed from them.
When doubts assail your faith, return to the historical certainty: Jesus died and was buried. Witnesses testified. Prophecies were fulfilled. And three days later, the tomb was empty. Your salvation rests on historical fact, not wishful thinking. Take confidence in the certainty of Christ's death and resurrection.
Day 5: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Reading: Isaiah 53
Devotional:
Seven hundred years before Jesus' birth, Isaiah prophesied that the suffering Servant would make "his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death." This specific detail seemed impossible—how could someone be buried with both criminals and the wealthy? Yet Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, provided his tomb for Jesus, who died among thieves.
God's sovereign plan unfolds with precision. Every detail of Jesus' death and burial fulfilled ancient prophecies, demonstrating that God orchestrates history for His purposes. Nothing catches Him by surprise. No circumstance falls outside His control.
This same God who fulfilled prophecy in Jesus' burial is faithful to fulfill His promises to you. When life feels chaotic or uncertain, remember: God's plans are precise and purposeful. He who orchestrated the Messiah's death and burial down to the smallest detail holds your life in His capable hands. Trust His sovereignty today.
Takeaways:
- Faithfulness isn't always dramatic—The women who served Jesus through His death and burial remind us that God uses ordinary, quiet, steady faithfulness to accomplish extraordinary things. Our consistent, unnoticed acts of service matter deeply to God.
- Jesus really died for us—The Roman professionals certified Jesus' death, confirming that His sacrifice was real and complete. Because He truly died and was buried, our sins can be buried forever, and we can experience genuine forgiveness and resurrection life.
- Christianity is meant to be public—Joseph of Arimathea's courageous decision to publicly identify with Jesus, despite the personal risk, challenges us to examine our own faith. Are we secret disciples, or do we courageously live out our faith in the open for all to see?
Devotionals:
Day 1: The Courage to Serve Publicly
Reading: Mark 15:42-47
Devotional:
Joseph of Arimathea faced a defining moment. As a secret disciple among the religious elite, revealing his faith could cost him everything—reputation, position, security. Yet when Jesus died, Joseph chose courage over comfort. He publicly asked Pilate for Jesus' body and provided his own tomb. His private faith became public service.
We all face moments that test whether we'll acknowledge Christ openly or hide our faith for convenience. Joseph reminds us that following Jesus is not a private affair—it's a public commitment. What areas of your life keep your faith hidden? Where is God calling you to step forward courageously? Remember Jesus' words: whoever is ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of before the Father. True discipleship requires taking up our cross publicly, trusting that what we lose for Christ's sake, we gain eternally.
Day 2: Faithful in the Ordinary
Reading: Luke 8:1-3; Mark 15:40-41, 47
Devotional:
While the disciples hid in fear, faithful women remained. They had followed Jesus throughout His ministry, serving Him with their resources and presence. Now, in His darkest hour, they didn't abandon Him. They watched His crucifixion from a distance and witnessed His burial. Their faithfulness wasn't dramatic—they simply did what love required.
God often works through ordinary, unnoticed faithfulness rather than spectacular acts. These women remind us that consistent, quiet service matters deeply to God. They ministered to Jesus in life and death, and God rewarded their faithfulness by making them the first witnesses of the resurrection. Your daily acts of service, your persistent prayers, your steady presence in someone's life—these aren't insignificant. God sees, God remembers, and God uses faithful servants to accomplish His purposes. Where can you show faithful, ordinary service today?
Day 3: Buried with Christ
Reading:*Romans 6:1-11
Devotional:
Paul declares that through baptism, we are buried with Christ. This isn't merely symbolic ritual—it represents a profound spiritual reality. When we come to faith, our old self dies and is buried. The person enslaved to sin, separated from God, controlled by the flesh—that person goes into the grave with Jesus.
But burial isn't the end. Just as Christ rose from the dead, we rise to walk in newness of life. The same power that raised Jesus from the tomb now works in us. This means our past doesn't define us. Our failures are buried. Our shame is dead. We are new creations with new identities, new purposes, and new power to live righteously.
Today, remember what's been buried. Stop digging up what God has put to death. Instead, walk in the reality of your resurrection life. You are no longer who you were. Live like it.
#Day 4: The Certainty of His Death
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Devotional:
Paul emphasizes the burial of Jesus as "of first importance." Why? Because burial confirms death. The Roman professionals certified Jesus was truly dead. The women witnessed where He was laid. The tomb was sealed and guarded. Jesus didn't merely swoon or fake His death—He truly died.
This certainty matters profoundly. If Jesus didn't truly die, our sins aren't truly forgiven. If His death wasn't real, neither is our salvation. But the witnesses confirm: Jesus died completely. And because His death was real, His resurrection was miraculous. Because He truly bore our sins to death, we can truly be freed from them.
When doubts assail your faith, return to the historical certainty: Jesus died and was buried. Witnesses testified. Prophecies were fulfilled. And three days later, the tomb was empty. Your salvation rests on historical fact, not wishful thinking. Take confidence in the certainty of Christ's death and resurrection.
Day 5: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Reading: Isaiah 53
Devotional:
Seven hundred years before Jesus' birth, Isaiah prophesied that the suffering Servant would make "his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death." This specific detail seemed impossible—how could someone be buried with both criminals and the wealthy? Yet Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, provided his tomb for Jesus, who died among thieves.
God's sovereign plan unfolds with precision. Every detail of Jesus' death and burial fulfilled ancient prophecies, demonstrating that God orchestrates history for His purposes. Nothing catches Him by surprise. No circumstance falls outside His control.
This same God who fulfilled prophecy in Jesus' burial is faithful to fulfill His promises to you. When life feels chaotic or uncertain, remember: God's plans are precise and purposeful. He who orchestrated the Messiah's death and burial down to the smallest detail holds your life in His capable hands. Trust His sovereignty today.
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