Mark 16

Chapter Overview

What happens in Mark 16

Mark 16 brings the Gospel to its climactic conclusion with the discovery of the empty tomb by the women, the angel's announcement that Jesus has risen, and the risen Christ's appearances and commission to his disciples. The chapter moves from the fear and astonishment of Easter morning to the global mission of the church empowered by the ascended Lord.

Scripture

The Empty Tomb

Study note

On Sunday morning, three women come to anoint Jesus' body, worried about who will move the massive stone. They find it already rolled away and encounter a young man in white who delivers the staggering announcement: 'He is risen! He is not here.' The angel directs them to tell the disciples 'and Peter,' a detail of gracious restoration for the one who denied Jesus most painfully. The women flee in trembling and astonishment, and Mark notes they 'said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.' This abrupt ending in the earliest manuscripts leaves the reader with a powerful sense of awe and an implicit challenge: how will you respond to the resurrection?

1 After the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought sweet-smelling spices. They wanted to go to the tomb and put them on his body. 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 Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun was coming up, they headed to the tomb. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 On the way there, they asked each other, "How are we going to move that huge stone away from the entrance?" And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had already been rolled aside. And it was an enormous stone. And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 They stepped inside the tomb and saw a young man in a long white robe sitting on the right side. They were startled and scared. 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 The young man said, "Do not be frightened. You came looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified. He has risen from the dead! He is not here. Look -- this is the spot where they laid his body." 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 "Now go and tell his disciples -- and make sure you tell Peter -- that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, exactly as he promised." 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 The women rushed out of the tomb and ran. They were shaking and overwhelmed. They did not say a word to anyone along the way because they were so afraid. 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.

Appearances of the Risen Jesus

Study note

Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, who had been delivered from seven demons, and she reports to the grieving disciples, but they do not believe her. He then appears in different form to two disciples walking in the countryside, and they too are disbelieved. Finally, Jesus appears to the eleven as they eat, rebuking them for their unbelief and hardness of heart. The pattern of testimony followed by disbelief highlights how difficult it was for even the closest followers to accept the resurrection, lending credibility to the accounts by showing the disciples were not gullible or expecting this outcome.

9 After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person he appeared to was Mary Magdalene. She was the same woman he had once freed from seven demons. 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 She went and found his followers, who were deep in grief and tears, and gave them the news. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 But when they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they refused to believe her. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that, Jesus appeared looking different to two of his followers. They were walking through the countryside. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 Those two went back and told the others, but nobody believed them either. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Last of all, Jesus appeared to all eleven disciples while they were eating. He scolded them for being stubborn and for refusing to believe the people who had seen him alive. 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.

The Great Commission and Ascension

Study note

Jesus commissions his followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, with the promise that belief and baptism lead to salvation while unbelief leads to condemnation. He describes signs that will accompany believers, including authority over demons, new tongues, protection from harm, and healing the sick. After giving this commission, Jesus is taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the position of supreme authority described in Psalm 110. The disciples obey, preaching everywhere as the Lord works with them and confirms the word through accompanying signs. Mark's Gospel thus ends not with a conclusion but with a new beginning: the mission continues.

15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 "Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned." He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 "Here are the signs that will go with people who believe. They will use my name to drive out demons. They will speak in languages they never learned." And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 "They will be able to pick up snakes safely. If they accidentally drink poison, it will not harm them. They will place their hands on sick people, and those people will get well." 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 After the Lord Jesus finished talking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down in the highest place of honor at God's right side. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 The disciples went out and preached the good news everywhere they went. The Lord backed up their message by giving them the power to perform miraculous signs. Amen. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Key Themes

Themes in Mark 16

The resurrection of JesusOvercoming unbeliefThe Great CommissionSigns accompanying believersThe ascension and enthronement of ChristThe ongoing mission of the church

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Mark 16:19 Psalm 110:1

Jesus' ascension and enthronement at God's right hand fulfills David's psalm about the Lord inviting the Messiah to sit at his right hand until his enemies are made his footstool, confirming Jesus' ultimate authority over all creation.

Apply This Today

Living Mark 16

The resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope. If Jesus has truly risen, then death is not the final word, suffering has meaning, and the future is secure. The disciples' initial unbelief encourages us that doubt is not the end of the story; Jesus meets us in our skepticism and transforms it into faith. The Great Commission reminds every believer that we are sent people with a global message. We do not carry this mission in our own strength, for the Lord works with us and confirms his word. The question Mark leaves us with is the same one that confronted the women at the tomb: now that you know Jesus is risen, what will you do?

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