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 Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 16th chapter of the gospel according to Mark in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible primarily narrates the astonishing event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This chapter serves as the climactic conclusion to Mark's Gospel, focusing on the discovery of the empty tomb, appearances of the risen Christ, and the Great Commission. This chapter, containing only 20 verses, is a powerful testament to the persistence of faith, the revelation of truth, and the eternal promise of salvation.
The chapter begins with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body. They had seen where Jesus was laid after his crucifixion and returned after the Sabbath to perform this final act of love. As they approached the tomb, they wondered who would roll away the stone for them. But to their surprise, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Instead of Jesus' body, they found a young man dressed in a white robe who told them that Jesus had risen and was no longer there. The angel instructed them to tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus was going ahead of them to Galilee.
This event is of immense significance. The empty tomb serves as a physical testament to the resurrection of Jesus. It validates the truth of Christ's prophecy about His resurrection and establishes the foundation for Christian faith. The empty tomb is not just an absence; it is a powerful presence that attests to the reality of resurrection and the assurance of life after death. The women's initial fear and astonishment are replaced with joy and hope, setting the stage for the subsequent appearances of the risen Christ.
Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. Despite her witness, the disciples did not believe her. Jesus later appears to two disciples on the road and then to the eleven at dinner, rebuking them for their unbelief and hardness of heart. These appearances of the resurrected Christ are central to the Christian faith. They confirm the reality of His resurrection, demonstrating that death has been conquered and eternal life is possible through faith in Him.
In His appearances, Jesus also commissions His disciples to carry on His mission. He instructs them to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus promises that those who believe and are baptized will be saved, while those who do not believe will be condemned. Furthermore, He promises that believers will be endowed with miraculous signs, such as casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, handling serpents, drinking deadly things without harm, and healing the sick.
These promises underscore the power of faith and the transformative potential of the gospel. They also highlight the responsibility of believers to bear witness to the truth of Christ's resurrection and to spread the good news of salvation. The promise of miraculous signs serves to empower the disciples in their mission and to attest to the divine authority of their message.
The chapter concludes with the ascension of Jesus. After speaking to His disciples, Jesus is taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. This event marks the completion of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of His eternal reign. It signifies the full restoration of His divine glory and authority, affirming His identity as the Son of God. The ascension also anticipates the second coming of Christ and the final consummation of God's kingdom.
Following the ascension, the disciples go forth and preach everywhere, with the Lord working with them and confirming their message with accompanying signs. This affirms the continuing presence and activity of Christ through His Spirit, empowering His followers to carry out His mission. It also validates the authenticity of their message and the transformative power of the gospel.
In conclusion, Mark 16 conveys the profound truth of Christ's resurrection, the reality of His divine identity, and the promise of eternal salvation. It underscores the centrality of faith, the responsibility of witness, and the power of the gospel. The empty tomb, the appearances of the risen Christ, and the ascension each contribute to the unfolding revelation of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the triumphant declaration of Christ's victory over death. Through the narrative of Mark 16, we are invited to share in the joy of the resurrection, the hope of salvation, and the mission of spreading the good news.
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