Mark 16:1–8 (Listen)
1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, 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 that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Early on Sunday morning, some of the women who had witnessed Jesus’ death and where He was buried set out to anoint Him with burial spices. On the way, they considered who they were going to get to move the large stone that covered the mouth of the tomb. (Perhaps they didn’t know about the Roman guard stationed to watch the tomb or they knew the Romans wouldn’t help them, Mat 27:62-66). As they got there they noticed that the stone had been rolled away and on entering the tomb they saw an angel sitting, dressed in white, and they were afraid. He told them not to be alarmed. They were looking for Jesus’ body but He was risen. They were looking to honour Him in death but He was alive. The angel told them to look see that He was not where they had laid Him. He had gone on to Galilee to meet them just as He had told them He would. The women were tasked with telling the disciples, including Peter (who was still one of the disciples despite his triple denial). They left the tomb astonished and amazed and afraid and rendered speechless because of the awesomeness of what God had done in raising Jesus from the dead.
Mark most likely ended his gospel there and there is debate about whether the following verses 9-20 were written by Mark. He leaves us with a bit of a cliff hanger to contemplate what we are going to do with the news that Jesus has risen. The angel declared it. The women witnessed it. No body has been found which validates it. Jesus subsequently appeared to many who attest to it. If Jesus has been raised, then everything He said is true. Will you believe it?