We begin chapter 16 noticing that what will now take place is on Saturday evening following the Sabbath. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome went out and bought burial spices to annoint Jesus' body with. They got all they needed and planned to go to the tomb.
Now we see it was "very early" Sunday morning (at sunrise) as they headed to the tomb. They wondered how they would get the huge stone moved away from the entrance so they could anoint Jesus' body. Surprisingly, when they arrived, the stone was not blocking the tomb entrance. They entered the tomb and were shocked to find a young man all in white clothing sitting there. The Bible states in verse 6, "but the angel said, "Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died."
It is said that Peter was singled out because Peter helped Mark with much of the material to write his gospel. The angel's explanation of the empty tomb and Jesus' directions, "as He told you before He died," refers back to Mark 10:33-34 on His death, and Mark 14:27-28 refers to Jesus going ahead of them to Galilee.
The women were afraid and "fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered." They didn't tell anyone because they were too frightened. The term, "frightened," used here means they were in reverent awe of the miracle which they now saw and heard. The miraculous resurrection of Christ, as He promised, was so overwhelming that they could not speak. Eventually, they reported what they had seen and heard to Peter and the others. Later, Jesus sent them out with the mission to spread the message of salvation that gives eternal life.
What I have found, and am comfortable with is that (in Walvoord and Zuck Bible Knowledge Commentary (NT)) the two earliest manuscripts found (from the fourth century) omitted verses 9-20. It is noted that the manuscripts found included a large blank space following verse 8. This space may suggest they knew there was a longer ending but may not have had that ending (verses 9-20) included in what the scribes were copying.
From the fifth century on, most manuscripts include verses 9-20. There is a great deal more information on this but I am writing basic comments regarding what I have read.
Verses 9-14 report three of Jesus' appearances following His resurrection from the dead.
First we are told that Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning. We are also told that the first person to see Him was Mary Magdalene (from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons).
Once Mary had seen Him, she went to the grieving disciples and told them what she had seen. They did not believe her. Based on other writings, the term "Jesus' disciples" means the larger group of His followers not just the eleven.
Later, Jesus appeared to two followers walking out to the country. They rushed back and told the others, but they did not believe them.
Even later, Jesus appeared to the disciples who were eating together. Thomas was not with them. Jesus rebuked them for not believing the other reports of His resurrection. (Later, I mention some of John's writings and the rebuke we read about hear is not mentioned in John.) We can see that, for the disciples, they had to see to believe. They had not been able to believe based solely on the testimony of people they had been with for quite some time.
When I saw the distinction, I was reminded of the verse in John where Jesus is talking to Thomas. Verse 20:29 reads, "Then Jesus told him (Thomas), "You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me." I find it interesting that Thomas is known for doubting yet we see in Mark that all the disciples had not believed until they had seen Him. The part in John is preceded by the disciples telling Thomas the good news that Jesus had risen and Thomas not believing them. Is that not the same situation the disciples were in as written by Mark? One commentary I read on this offered that the women were not believed because they were women. In those days, a woman's testimony is not official or credible based on gender alone. This meant that traditionally men would not accept the word of a woman giving the disciples an excuse for not believing until they saw Jesus in person.
Jesus then gave them their missiom. They were now to go into all the world and tell everyone the Good News that Jesus had risen from the dead as He promised and that belief in Him as Messiah would bring with it, eternal life.
Once a person heard and believed the Good News and accepted it, they would naturally be baptized and be counted among the saved.
But if one did not believe, they would not be saved but be condemned. Not believing would obviously not lead them to be baptized.
So, it is faith and belief that are the criteria for salvation. Faith and belief motivates one to be baptized. Faith and belief motivates us to do many more things but it all starts with believing.
Jesus then tells of miraculous signs that accompany becoming a believer. Those signs are casting out demons in Jesus' name, speaking new languages (as was demonstrated at Pentecost), handling snakes safely, being able to drink poison but not be poisoned, and being able to lay their hand on the sick and heal them. Such signs were seen as a seal validating what they did.
Chapter 16 closes with Jesus' being done talking with them and then being taken up to heaven and seated in the place of honor at God's right hand. You can see this also, nearly word for word, in Stephen's vision recorded in Acts 7:55-57. To many, Jesus' being taken up to heaven signaled the completion of His earthly work. However, while He would not be here in person, He continued His work through the disciples and the mission He gave them.
Hie work through the disciples began as told in verses 19-20. The disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said through miraculous signs.
WE ARE NEAR THE END OF MARK TO BE COMPLETED NOVEMBER 30TH. AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, WE WILL TAKE THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OFF AND PICK OUR STUDIES BACK UP ON JANUARY 1, 2014.
WHILE THIS BLOG COMPLETES THE BLOGS ON MARK, I THINK I WILL DO ONE MORE NEXT WEEK, GIVING MORE BACKGROUND INTO SOME OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED IN MARK.