23S24 Mark 16:1-20 (Part 39) He is Risen
(written by Dr. Kip Wehrman 08/05/2023)
Hello everyone. I’m Kip and I want to thank you for joining me today @ the PUNLA Coffee Table. Today we are continuing our study of the gospel according to Mark with Mark 16:1-20 (Part 39) He is Risen.
In our last Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb. This was before dusk on the preparation day or the day after Passover. Then the next day was what is called a High Day or special Sabbath, then the weekly sabbath. Today we are picking up the story at dusk when the sabbath was over.
Let’s read it again from the New American Standard version (NAS).
Let’s read Mark 16:1-20 (NAS) 1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” 4And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him. 7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. 12Now after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13And they went away and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either. 14Later He appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen from the dead. 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.
Let’s pray.
Now let’s look at these verse closer, Mark 16:1-3 (NAS) 1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?”
Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene and Salome went out to the market as soon as the sabbaths were over so they could prepare the burial spices. Remember its dark, so they can’t go to the tomb and complete the burial of Jesus until it is daylight the next morning. To understand this, we need some understanding of the Jewish burial rituals. Because Jesus was buried so quickly 2 days earlier, the women assumed the burial rituals had not been completed. Jewish people would pack pounds and pounds of spices around and on the body to mask the smell of decay and this was part of preparing a body for burial. Theses ladies were mourning the death of Jesus but were going to complete these “necessary” rituals as soon as possible. Remember it’s been 2days and 2 nights. So, they get up probably before dawn on the third day and head to the tomb carrying many pounds of the prepared spices. Then they remember, how will we move the stone so we can access the tomb.
Mark 16:4-6 (NAS) 4And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him.
I don’t like this translation. They were amazed. They were scared. In the Bible when people see an angel they are scared. The angel says. Fear not. I like that better. Then the angel says. He is Risen. What. The one who was dead is dead no more. And on the third day he rose again. Just Jesus had said, Amen and Hallelujah.
Let’s continue with Mark 16:7-11 (NAS) 7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.
The disciples and Peter. I bet that hurt Peter a bit. The disciples and Peter. Remember Peter had denied Jesus. Denied that he even knew Jesus. So Peter needs to be restored. They ran to the disciples to tell them. The Bible says they are shaking. I’ve had a couple encounters, that I believe were angels. I was shaking. And Jesus has risen. I cannot imagine the range of emotions. And of course, the disciples refuse to believe them.
Let’s continue with Mark 16:12-14 (NAS) 12Now after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13And they went away and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either. 14Later He appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen from the dead.
Now Mark does not give the details of these stories like Matthew does. But Jesus appeared in another form. I don’t understand this, but Jesus is God and He has a resurrected body. So, I just believe. But now they believe don’t they.
Let’s continue with Mark 16:15-18 (NAS) 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark jumps ahead in the story a bit here. Now Jesus gives what we call the great commission. His followers are to go and share the good news about Jesus. People who become followers of Jesus will have power in the name of Jesus. I don’t know if the these are literal or metaphorical expressions. But handling snakes, drinking poison, casting out demons is a show of power. Healing the sick is power that can only come from God. Now I doubt I can do any of these things myself. However, nothing is impossible with God. And if God wants you to do any of these things, then yest of course you will.
Let’s continue with Mark 16:19-20 (NAS) 19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.
Then Jesus ascended into Heaven. And the disciple went everywhere proclaiming the good news of Jesus and performed the signs Jesus told them they would do. Amen.
Let’s Pray.
Let me leave you with this today. HE IS RISEN. If you get nothing else out of this study of Mark, remember HE IS RISEN. Jesus was who He said He was. The resurrection proves this. Jesus is the king of everything, the resurrection proves this. The resurrection is often doubted. But, the evidence for the resurrection is substantial. There are many accounts outside of the Bible to collaborate these events. The disciples suddenly go from scared cowards to bold advocates for Jesus. Willing to die for the good news the resurrection means. No one dies for a lie. The whole story was contrary to culture and Jewish and Roman beliefs. Yet, Christianity grew. The message of Jesus saves. The was in spite of the resurrection story. The only way is that the resurrection is true. HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED. Amen. Thank you for joining me for our study of the gospel of Mark.
