Mar 16:1
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.: For notes on who they are, see Mar 15:40. They were legally able to buy the spices once the sun went down because that started the next day. We don't know when they bought the spices, but the wording makes it likely that they bought the spices that evening. The Jewish custom was to anoint the body to try and reduce odors. Joh 19:39 records that they had begun the process of anointing the body, but because the Sabbath was approaching, the job wasn't properly finished, so no doubt these ladies wanted to do see it done properly. Notice that these three women came as soon as they heard about the trial, stayed with Jesus through the crucifixion, and even now haven't abandoned Him. Where were all of His disciples?
Mar 16:2
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.: There's no mention of buying spices in the morning, so this adds evidence that the spices were bought at night. The timing is a bit difficult to follow because of the difference in how we think of days now and how they thought of them in Jesus's day. Here's a quick timeline:
- Jesus dies around 3PM on Friday
- Joseph and Nicodemus bury Jesus before 6PM on Friday
- Roman guards are placed on Saturday, the Sabbath
- Stone rolled away early Sunday morning
- Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome arrive at the empty tomb somewhere around 5:30AM to 6AM
Mar 16:3
And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”: At about 6 foot in diameter, this stone was huge and probably weighed a couple tons. There was no way these women could move it.
Mar 16:4
And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.: Now the first thing I wondered was, "Where were the guards?" But the Holy Spirit had that covered. Mat 28:1-8 explains it in detail. The guards were scared off by an angel who opened the tomb. These guards went to the Sanhedrin instead of the Roman authorities and they were bribed into telling a lie that Jesus's disciples had come and stolen the body. If these guards had abandoned their posts and went to the Romans, they would have been executed.
Mar 16:5
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.: I immediately noticed that there were differences in the accounts between Mark and Matthew here. Mark speaks of an angel inside on the right, and Matthew speaks of the angel that rolled away the stone. Again, the Holy Spirit fills in the blank with Luk 24:4. There were two angels. Now, I find it fascinating that angels are often described as looking like humans. Abraham entertained the pre-incarnate Jesus and angels and they were described as men. Lot was visited by the angels that were with Jesus when He visited Abraham and were described as men. We're even told to entertain strangers because they might be angels (Heb 13:2).
Mar 16:6
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.: I like how JD Farag puts these types of things when the Bible says something like, "Do not be alarmed." He usually says something like, "Why would it say not to be alarmed? Because they were alarmed!" They had good reason to be alarmed. There were these two angels hanging out in an empty tomb where the Messiah was supposed to have been laid. Perhaps they suddenly remembered that Jesus had told them that He would raise Himself on the third day.
Mar 16:7
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.”: And just as if this angel was confirming what had just gone through their heads, the angel says that just as Jesus had told them that He would rise again on the third day, it had happened. The angel tells the women to go and tell the disciples and Peter what they had seen. The angel mentions Peter separately because Peter is the leader.
Mar 16:8
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.: There's no doubt that I would have responded the same way. That would be terrifying to see two angels in the empty tomb of the Messiah. Now, when this says that they said nothing to anyone, that can't be a blanket statement. It means that they didn't say anything to anyone along the way to get the disciples. They obviously went and talked to the disciples.
Mar 16:9
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.: The ESV makes note that there are differences in the manuscripts from this point until 16:20. I'll just add their notes here:
Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9–20 immediately after verse 8. At least one manuscript inserts additional material after verse 14; some manuscripts include after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. These manuscripts then continue with verses 9–20
For notes on Mary Magdalene, see Mar 15:40. Jhn 20:1-16 describes Mary's encounter - briefly mentioned here - with the resurrected Jesus. After bringing Peter and John to the empty tomb, they leave but she stays and talks to whom she believes is a gardener and asks him where the body had been taken. When Jesus says her name, Mary's eyes are opened and she recognizes Him.
Mar 16:10
She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.: Peter and John had left the tomb and gone back to tell the other disciples the body was gone. They were mourning what they thought was the theft of His body. Even after being told numerous times that Jesus had to die and be resurrected, they still didn't believe, even when it happened! And yet, Jesus still died for us. He loves us, even with our huge failings.
Mar 16:11
But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.: Even after Mary Magdalene came and told them, and Jesus had told them before His death, the disciples still didn't believe. Jesus had told them numerous times, and Peter had even rebuked Jesus. By this, we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves when it comes to lack of faith. If we believe that Jesus died for us, was resurrected, and there is salvation only through Him, we will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).
Mar 16:12
After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.: Luk 24:13-35 tells us about this. The two disciples were Cleophas and Peter. They were walking to Emmaus and Jesus appeared to them and laid out how the scriptures pointed to how He had to suffer. Jesus didn't reveal His identity until they were in the city, but once He did, Cleophas and Peter returned to Jerusalem to tell the others.
Mar 16:13
And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.: Isn't it incredible how stubborn we humans can be? Jesus had told them directly that He would suffer, the Scriptures had foretold it, and Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, and Peter had all seen Him after the resurrection—yet the disciples still refused to believe.
Mar 16:14
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.: This was after Peter and Cleophas had returned from Emmaus. There was only 11 now because Judas had left them. Jesus rebukes them because they clearly should have believed by now. They had the scriptures, Jesus Himself, Mary Magdalene, Peter and Cleophas all tell them about the resurrection but they still didn't believe. Hardness of heart really means that they chose not to believe, even though they had all this evidence.
Mar 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.: This is what Christians call the great commission. They were to go out into all the world and proclaim the gospel. And what is the gospel? Paul tells us simply in Rom 10:9-13, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”"
Mar 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.: Believe that Jesus is Lord and that He was resurrected (Rom 10:9-10) and you will be saved. Don't let people make it more complicated than this. People love to put their requirements on you, just as the Jewish leaders did. They love to feel righteous. Jesus said (Mat 11:28-30), "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Baptism is one area where people like to legalize salvation. We should always take these commands in the Spirit of the command. Is it logical that Paul tells us that salvation is through belief only, and to make a requirement to be baptized? Of course not. This baptism is an outward expression of our spiritual rebirth. Should we get baptized? Of course, but after coming to Jesus and making Him ruler in your life, if something were to happen to you before getting baptized, you'd still be saved. For example, there are people who hear Christian apologists online and receive Jesus without a church. They have to seek out a church, schedule a time for a baptism, and then get baptized. What if something happened to them during that time? Would Jesus throw them into outer darkness because of that? Don't be ridiculous. Of course not!
Mar 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;: There is great debate today about who this verse applies to, because the wording seems clear. However, it could be only addressing the Apostles, and not us believers today. We may not see these accompanying signs due to a lack of faith. I know that I personally have doubts about these things. If it is simply a lack of faith, I pray that God will help us overcome that lack. Aside from this though, I have witnessed demon possession and believe there are a whole lot of people being possessed in the US today. Last year, during a live stream of JD Farag's church service, a demon possessed woman started screaming. Here's the cut video from JD Farag. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70lueh_Qqpg). He did a follow-up video about it here https://subsplash.com/u/calvarychapelkaneohe/media/d/pmyf8k6-demonic-spirit-manifestations. He said that we are able to cast out spirits because 1Jn 4:4, "... He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world." So, while I know we can do these things, and even have examples in scripture of them being done, and witnessing demons, I find myself in the same place that the apostles were at. If Jesus talked to me today, I'm sure He'd say that I am (Luk 24:25), "... foolish and slow of heart to believe." If you find yourself in the same position that I'm in here, join me in prayer asking for this unbelief to be removed in your life, as I am asking for it in my life. However, it could also be that this is directed at the Apostles and we're only given specific gifts of the Spirit today. Either way, our goal should be to further the kingdom of God, using what gifts we have.
Mar 16:18
they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”: This brings to mind Act 28:3-5 where Paul gets bit by a viper and it doesn't harm him. We still hear of people getting healed to this day, although I personally haven't witnessed it.
Mar 16:19
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.: Jesus being taken up just means that He ascended into Heaven. It's also translated received up. And this concept of Jesus sitting down at the right hand of God is very important. Jesus is God, and God is one, right? Yes. Jesus is eternal, just as the Father is eternal because there can only logically be one thing that is eternal. It's not possible to have two all-encompassing things. Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit all are one. But the infinite God, being able to do anything, somehow entered creation through the Word become flesh, Jesus. He came down to creation to reconcile God's creation through His sacrifice on the cross. Now, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father as our eternal intercessor who (Heb 7:25), "is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Mar 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.: These events of the disciples going out and preaching everywhere are recorded in the book of Acts. The fact that their message was confirmed by accompanying signs seems to indicate that the signs in Mar 16:16-17 are for confirmation of the message that the Apostles were to preach, and not necessarily for us today. Today, it's more likely that we are given individual spiritual gifts and we're to use those given to further the kingdom of God.
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