The oldest ascertainable form of the Gospel of Mark ends with the story of Joseph of Arimathea (15:40–41, 47), which sandwiches the account of the women attending Jesus’s crucifixion and empty tomb (15:42–46). In contrast to the women, who watch the crucifixion “from a distance” (15:40) and who are anxious, distressed, and fearful at the tomb (16:5, 8), Joseph acts with resolution and boldness in procuring the body of Jesus from Pilate and burying him honorably. The faithfulness of Joseph is thus contrasted to the fearfulness of the women.

The temple discourse (13:32–37) and the agony of Gethsemane (14:34, 38) ended with the command to “watch.” The sandwich unit begins in 15:40 with the names of several women “watching” the crucifixion. The Greek word for “watch” is used by Mark to sugge…