Mark 16:1-20
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9–20.]
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
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It has to be noted that vs. 9-20 are often bracketed in Bibles to indicate these verses are not contained in the earliest manuscripts. At some point these verses were included, and so they were probably understood to be a true account at certain points in history. It would probably be safe to say that even if the recorded event was questionable, the point of the story is nonetheless true. I notice also a lot of similarities in this account as some of the other gospel accounts, so it is possible that with this story circulating that it was added later perhaps partly to bring closure to Mark’s gospel. Without these verses, Mark’s gospel ends abruptly without having even recording an eyewitness account of Jesus after His resurrection.
S – is there a sin to confess? The sin of unbelief. The disciples didn’t believe Mary Magdalene’s story or of the two men walking in the country. Thomas isn’t the only one who doubted according to this account!
P – is there a promise to claim? Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condemned. Signs to accompany those who believe – drive out demons, speak in new tongues, pick up snakes, not be harmed by drinking deadly poison, heal sick people.
A – is there an attitude to change? Jesus rebukes them for their stubborn refusal to believe.
C – is there a command to obey? Go into all the world and preace the good news to all creation.
E – is there an example to follow? The disciples after Jesus ascended.
P – is there a prayer to pray? No.
E – is there an error to avoid? The women were told to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen. Instead they were afraid and told no one (until apparently later). The obvious sin of disbelief by the disciples. Rather than checking it out for themselves (except Peter and John), rather than believing the women who had been with them through it all, they chose to disregard their words.
T – is there a truth to believe? Jesus died and rose and ascended to the Father’s right hand. I see also that after Jesus ascended, that as the disciples preached the gospel, “the Lord worked with them” (v. 20). Jesus continues to work with us as we also preach the gospel.
S – is there something to praise God for? Jesus is alive! Hallelujah!
As I read this account, I find that I have to get over the hurdle that this passage is not found in the earliest manuscripts. I sort of feel like the disbelieving disciples who have a hard time believing the women. But there are overarching truths here that cannot be ignored. Jesus is alive. He has called His followers to spread the good news. He is working with us from the Father’s right hand (a symbol of power). This pretty much sums up the purpose of Jesus’ mission and the gospel accounts. Everything culminates in these very truths.
My prayer is that I might believe these truths so much that I will preach the gospel boldly and with confidence knowing that He will accompany these efforts with the power of the Father’s right hand.