Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans
CHAPTER 16
Mark 16:1-8
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the
sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the
door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was
very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right
side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into
Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and
were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Following the last of the
Passover Sabbaths, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome
bought spices, and came to anoint Christ.
At this, please understand
that Mary, the mother of Jesus and James was a virgin only until Jesus was
born. She and Joseph had other
children. The Roman Catholic Church has
perpetuated the “virgin myth” only to claim the other myth of the “Immaculate
Conception.”
The “Immaculate Conception”
concerns the birth of Mary and not the birth of Christ Jesus. The RCC teaches that Mary was born without
sin and therefore is a co-redeemer/co-mediator with Christ Jesus. That teaching is heresy!
The phrase, “the first day of
the week” (Gr. tee mia toon Sabbatoon-th mia twn Sabbatwn), is an incorrect translation. It should have been translated “the first of
the Sabbaths {leading to Pentecost}. That shows the purpose of Jesus
resurrection at the end Passover week.
Pentecost comes 50 days
(seven Sabbaths plus one day) after the Feast of firstfruits Sabbath during
Passover. During the Passover there are
multiple Sabbaths. The women came to the
tomb on the first of the Sabbaths leading to Pentecost.
As they arrived at the tomb,
they had at least one question: “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door
of the sepulcher?”
It was obvious that they
could not do it themselves!
Then, they saw that the stone
had already been rolled away. Upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man
sitting on the right side of where the body of Jesus should have been. He was clothed in a long white garment. The
Bible tells us that “they were affrighted.”
Utterly astonished would be another description.
When they arrived, Jesus had
already been resurrected. He was
probably raised at sunset, or the beginning of the Sabbath. Early on the
Sabbath would have been just after sundown.
The Jewish days run from sundown to sundown and not from midnight to
midnight.
The angel {young man} told
them, “Don’t be terrified! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was
crucified, but He is risen! He is not here! Look at the place where they laid
him. Now, go and tell his disciples and Peter that he will meet them in
They quickly left the
sepulcher, because they trembled were amazed.
At first, they did not tell of the event because they were afraid.
Mark 16:9-11
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first
to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her,
believed not.
When Jesus was risen early
the first Sabbath, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Then, she went and told those that had
followed Christ, as they mourned and wept. But, they did not believe at first.
That is a remarkable thing to
believe. The truth is often difficult to
believe.
Keep in mind that it was a
woman who first carried the message of the risen Savior!
Mark 16:12-13
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of
them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither
believed they them.
Later, Jesus appeared to two
other followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). They, in turn, told the other followers, but
(at first) they would not believe even them.
Mark 16:14-18
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided
them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them
which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast
out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall
not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Afterward, Jesus appeared to
the eleven as they ate a meal, and upbraided them for their unbelief and
hardness of heart. Jesus told them, as
He now tells us, “Go into the entire world, and preach the gospel to everyone.”
That is a command, and not a
suggestion! Those who love Christ will
find a way to express that love to others.
Jesus continued, “He that
believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be
damned (Gr. katakritheesetai-katakriqhsetai), or receive negative judgment.”
John 3:18 He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God.
Jesus then told them that
“these signs shall follow them that believe! In My name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover.”
That is not a sign that we
are to handle snakes or drink poison to test His words. That ending has caused much debate because of
those who do not have the faith to do as he commanded, and those who attempt to
test His words to prove their faith.
Some who claim to be
Christians do not believe in miracles or healing. By their own words they do not accept
salvation, which is a miracle that results in the healing of a sin-sick
soul!
Mark 16:19-20
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven,
and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
After Christ spoke to them,
he was received up into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God the
Father. It is from that position of
power that he intercedes for us.
Rom 8:34 Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Those truly believed in the
resurrected Christ went out, and preached the gospel. The Lord worked with them as He does with us.
He confirmed His word with special signs.
While preferring the longer
ending, Dr. Walter Harrelson who has chaired the NRSV Translation Committee
responded to my questions concerning a seldom used third ending to Mark. I offer it only for your study without any further
comment.
"This age of
lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power
of God to prevail over the unclean things of the spirits. Therefore reveal your
righteousness now"--thus they spoke to Christ. And Christ replied to them,
"The term of years of Satan's power has been fulfilled, but other terrible
things draw near. And for those who have sinned I was handed over to death,
that they may return to the truth and sin no more, that they may inherit the
spiritual and imperishable glory of righteousness that is in heaven."