Mark 16 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Mark 16:1-8

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 3 and 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. 5 As 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. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”’

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

A. Find Out:

1. Why did the 3 women go? v.1
2. What day was it? v.2
3. What difficulty did they have in mind? v.3
4. But what did they find instead? v.4,5
5. What did the angel say about Jesus? v.6
6. What did he tell the women to do? v.7
7. What did that leave the women feeling? v.8

B. Think:

1. How long has passed since the crucifixion?
2. What were the emotions of the women at the different stages here?
3. Does the angelic message solve their problems? Why?

C. Comment:

Late on Friday Jesus was buried in a rush. Saturday was Sabbath. Now it is early Sunday morning, the first day of the Jewish week. Work can be done again. Several of the women who had watched the crucifixion are concerned at the lack of proper burial procedure. They determine to go to the grave and properly anoint the body, forgetting that this had been done previously [Mark 14:8]. They are aware that the tomb has a large stone over it and wonder how to deal with it. They are a mixture of being very down to earth, practical and caring and yet somewhat confused, these women!

At the tomb they have a divine encounter, they meet an angel and Jesus is gone! Jesus is risen! Tell the others that Jesus will meet them in Galilee as he said. They had been concerned on the way, worried when they saw the stone rolled away, frightened when they saw the angel, and now confused as they leave. Resurrection and angel visitations are all too much to take, especially when you were certain that he was dead! They had forgotten in the anguish of all they had witnessed that Jesus had prophesied his resurrection. Perhaps a bit too down to earth, these women?

D. Application?

1. Confusion is understandable in the circumstances.
2. Faith overcomes confusion!

Passage: Mark 16:9-20

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 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. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterwards Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later 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 gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptised 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 people who are ill, 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.

A. Find Out:

1. To whom did Jesus appear? v.9,12a,14a
2. How had the others first received the news? v.11,13
3. What did Jesus say about that? v.14
4. What did he command them to do? v.15
5. What then happened to Jesus? v.19
6. What signs follow belief? v.17,18

B. Think:

1. Why do you think the disciples have such a hard time believing that Jesus has risen?
2. What command did Jesus issue?
3. What promises were given?

C. Comment:

You may see from above that this passage is not in some of the oldest manuscripts. Note however that:

• a) all the appearances of Jesus are also recorded in the other Gospels
• b) the signs of v.17 & 18 were all fulfilled in the book of Acts
• c) the ascension of Jesus is confirmed in the book of Acts as well.

This passage is therefore, an excellent summary passage, first of the HISTORICAL EVENTS, being i) the resurrection of Jesus and appearances to his followers ii) the difficulty they had coping with it iii) his bodily ascension to heaven iv) the apostles continuing as Jesus had instructed.

 Second, see it summarises DIVINE COMMAND AND PROMISES, being

• i) command to tell the good news,
• ii) promise that salvation would follow belief and
• iii) promise of power and authority to follow.

We should observe that the criteria for salvation AND for ministry is simply BELIEF, belief that what Jesus said is true and is for today and that, as he leads us, the same things may happen today. It is for those who believe, not merely for the earliest disciples. There is no time limit: Jesus is still the same today! (Hebrews 13:8)

D. Application?

1. Affirm the truth of Hebrew 13:8 today!
2. Praise Him for the truths in today’s passage.