Day 20 of Journey through Mark: AN ABRUPT ENDING TO MARK

COMMENTARY Our final reading tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection. Compared to Mark’s account of the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, this story is short, and it may be shorter than it appears at first glance. About halfway through our reading, the text provides a note saying, “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.” Modern scholars almost universally agree that these verses are a later, second century addition. Though they sound a lot like what we read in some of the other gospel accounts, they aren’t written in Mark’s characteristic style, and they don’t appear in the earliest copies we have of the book. These verses seem to have been added to the end of the book to compensate for the fact that Mark’s resurrection story is brief and ends abruptly. After an angel instructs some of Jesus’ female followers to “go, tell” others about the resurrected Jesus, the book surprisingly ends with the report, “They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” (Mark 16:7-8). Theories abound as to why the book ends so abruptly. Some have speculated that the original ending to the book was lost. Others have suggested that Mark never finished the book. Perhaps the best explanation is that Mark actually intended to end his book this way. There’s great irony in the fact that, at this point in the book, when individuals are finally free to tell others about Jesus, they suddenly go silent. Previously, Jesus had asked others not to share His identity, but they would not stay quiet (e.g., Mark 1:45; 7:36). Now, on this side of the crucifixion, an angel asks others to share about Jesus, but they say nothing. We know from the other Gospels in the Bible that these women eventually did go on to share the good news with others. But Mark seems to have cut the story short for a rhetorical effect. As readers, we are left wondering who will share the gospel if the women will not. The abrupt ending is meant to entice us to carry on the story ourselves. As readers, we’ve walked with Jesus throughout His journey. He’s called us. He’s challenged us to leave everything behind and follow Him. Now that we’ve heard that the kingdom has come near, we have a final decision to make. Will we go away silent, or will we join Mark in proclaiming the good news? SCRIPTURE MARK 16 CHAPTER 16 JESUS HAS RISEN 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. [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 Afterward 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 baptized 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 sick people, 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. REFLECTION 1. Who in your life do you need to share the good news with? What is the first step you need to take towards sharing Jesus’ message with that person? 2. What has been your most significant learning from reading through the book of Mark? How has God been challenging you?