In this final section of Mark’s Gospel (Mark 15:40 – 16:8), it seems as if we have another so-called Markan sandwich. This is a technique where the writer begins with one story, moves on to another story, and then finally coming back to the first story. For example, Mark 15:40 talks about the women watching from a distance, Mark 15:43 introduces us to Joseph of Arimathea, and then Mark 15:47 and Mark 16:1 go back to the women.
Normally, Mark uses this sandwich arrangement because he wants to make a specific point with the story in the middle. And he does so by drawing attention to similarities and differences between the middle story and the story on the side.
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.