Arimath's Argument About The Burial Story In Mark

Further reading into the book also disposes the idea through the author’s argument about the burial story in Mark in the following quote “I have argued that Mark created the empty tomb narrative to replace any risen apparition story as the conclusion of the gospel” (pg 16). Professor Crossan’s argument is centered around the story about Joseph of Arimathea’s burial being a tradition or an addition by Mark. Professor Crossan states “Somebody named Joseph of Arimathea could have buried Jesus either out of personal piety or out of communal duty” (Pg. 20). The inconsistencies and lack of sources make it hard to tell one way or the other in regards to the burial story. From a faith perspective, one would need to believe it to be true but form an
academic perspective one in a sense has to question the validity of Marks writings. Throughout the book, this narrative is displayed repeatedly not questioning the importance of Christ but rather questioning the display of events that are present in our remembered history in the New Testament.