The last chapter of Mark presents an interesting problem. Almost every Bible includes a note immediately after v. 8. Mine says, “Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20.” That used to bother me a lot. How could I know that any of the Bible was true if these verse might have been added at a later date?
I believe that these verses were added later, but that they are true. They mirror Luke’s testimony regarding Jesus’ resurrection, and they don’t introduce any ideas that can’t be corroborated by other biblical authors. So, don’t fret about them.
However, if Mark ends where the note says it ends that presents some interesting (and I think comforting) things to grab on to. “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.”
So here are the women who had followed Jesus all the way from Galilee. They had seen Jesus perform miracles. They had heard him teach. They alone, along with John, had followed Jesus all the way to the cross. They had seen the angel and heard his message, “He has risen, . . . .” Yet they were afraid.
Keep that in mind.
Now, a question: have you ever wished, “If only I could have been there! It would be so much easier to understand and believe this stuff if I could have walked with Jesus!”? I have.
I think Mark is making a point. All through his book the disciples don’t understand. “Are you so dull?” Jesus asks them. Despite the fact that he explained no less than three times what was going to happen to Him, Jesus’ disciples all ran and hid when He was arrested. Now the women, the ever faithful women, don’t understand and they are afraid.
Do you think it would have been easier to believe back then? Really?
This has been a hard lesson for me, so I will state it simply: Faith is hard. Walking by faith is difficult. Seeing through the lens of faith is tough to do. Don’t wish for the past – it wasn’t any easier to believe then than it is now. We are given today, and we are placed in this time and at this place to serve the Lord Jesus and, as those disputed verses say, to “proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Is that a little scary? Are we sometimes afraid to speak? Yes. But don’t beat yourself up over it – the disciples and the women were there and they were afraid and sometimes failed to speak too! Instead, take a look at v. 20. “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”
The Lord Jesus still works with us to do His work. He is the one who changes hearts. He is the one who, by His Holy Spirit, creates faith in people – even in you and me! It is okay to be a little “dull”, scared, confused – Jesus is here with us! He will see us through.
It comes down to faith – not reason, sight, evidence, or any of that – and faith clings to the promises and follows because the One who calls us has loved us and redeemed us. And we get to join Him in loving and redeeming others.
I believe that these verses were added later, but that they are true. They mirror Luke’s testimony regarding Jesus’ resurrection, and they don’t introduce any ideas that can’t be corroborated by other biblical authors. So, don’t fret about them.
However, if Mark ends where the note says it ends that presents some interesting (and I think comforting) things to grab on to. “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.”
So here are the women who had followed Jesus all the way from Galilee. They had seen Jesus perform miracles. They had heard him teach. They alone, along with John, had followed Jesus all the way to the cross. They had seen the angel and heard his message, “He has risen, . . . .” Yet they were afraid.
Keep that in mind.
Now, a question: have you ever wished, “If only I could have been there! It would be so much easier to understand and believe this stuff if I could have walked with Jesus!”? I have.
I think Mark is making a point. All through his book the disciples don’t understand. “Are you so dull?” Jesus asks them. Despite the fact that he explained no less than three times what was going to happen to Him, Jesus’ disciples all ran and hid when He was arrested. Now the women, the ever faithful women, don’t understand and they are afraid.
Do you think it would have been easier to believe back then? Really?
This has been a hard lesson for me, so I will state it simply: Faith is hard. Walking by faith is difficult. Seeing through the lens of faith is tough to do. Don’t wish for the past – it wasn’t any easier to believe then than it is now. We are given today, and we are placed in this time and at this place to serve the Lord Jesus and, as those disputed verses say, to “proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Is that a little scary? Are we sometimes afraid to speak? Yes. But don’t beat yourself up over it – the disciples and the women were there and they were afraid and sometimes failed to speak too! Instead, take a look at v. 20. “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”
The Lord Jesus still works with us to do His work. He is the one who changes hearts. He is the one who, by His Holy Spirit, creates faith in people – even in you and me! It is okay to be a little “dull”, scared, confused – Jesus is here with us! He will see us through.
It comes down to faith – not reason, sight, evidence, or any of that – and faith clings to the promises and follows because the One who calls us has loved us and redeemed us. And we get to join Him in loving and redeeming others.
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