CHAPTER 16

1 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 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

Saturday was "past," and Sunday was dawning ("the first day of the week....").
Mark records that two "Mary's" went to the tomb. Their desire was to complete the embalming that had begun Friday evening, but was incomplete due to the time approaching of "the Sabbath."

As they approached the tomb, they realized the "stone" was too large for them to move. It was "very great." They would need help.

They certainly did not expect what they saw!!
Shocked, afraid and excited, they continued into the tomb.

5 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 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 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 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.

Tombs were large enough to allow entrance, yet small enough that one would certainly see everything in it. They saw a "young man" whom Matthew describes as "an angel" (see Matthew 28:2-5).

Seeing the "young man" (or angel) frightened them! Immediately he spoke assuring them they need not fear him.
Also, he told them to go and make Peter and the other disciples aware of the resurrection, and that Jesus would join them in Galilee.

The women left hurriedly, not speaking to anyone until they brought the news to the disciples.

When we meet Jesus, in a real life-changing salvation experience, the FIRST thing we want to do is TELL SOMEONE!
But not just ANYONE! We want to first share this wonderful news with Jesus' DISCIPLES!
Then, we want to share it with the world!

9 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 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Consistent with the first verse of Chapter 16, Mark reiterates that Jesus had "appeared first to Mary Magdalene". (See also Matthew 28:9-10)

After the angel had spoken to them, they left hurriedly. Then Jesus met them while they were on the way to tell the disciples.

But after they told the disciples, they "believed not." They had watched Jesus DIE! Even though He had repeatedly told them of His resurrection, it was too incredible to believe, even on the basis of the two women's testimony, and the testimony of the men who met Jesus on the "road to Emmaus"(See the story Luke 24:13-33).

But soon they WOULD believe!

14 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.

John, in his writing (John 20:19) tells us that Jesus appeared that evening to the disciples who were in the upper room. (See John 20:19).

It seems that Mark, here, skips the incident of the upper room, and goes directly to the time when Jesus met with the disciples in Galillee (See vs 7 above).

Luke and John, in their description of these meetings, indicate that Jesus let them know He understood how hard it was for them to believe He was actually alive. Mark seems to indicate that Jesus was disappointed because the disciples did not believe the reports. After all, they HAD heard Jesus tell them of His pending death and resurrection several times.

But it seems the focus upon the first meeting was as follows:

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 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.

First, Jesus commands them to "GO," and preach the Gospel. The Gospel is the truth of salvation through Jesus and Him alone.
Do you know why Jesus said preach "to every creature?"
'Cause we need the PRACTICE!

God gives us a choice: Him, or "...the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone..." (Revelation 21:8)
The choice is simple, yet very profound.
Either we are FOR Jesus, or we are AGAINST Him (See Matthew 12:30)
The ones who believe will follow in baptism to exhibit their belief and new-found faith. Baptism is a SYMBOL by which we testify of an experience that has ALREADY happened within us. Baptism is NOT a determiner to eternal salvation, as some would have us believe.

IF we believe, we will follow in baptism.
IF one does NOT believe, naturally they won't follow in baptism.
Baptism is an exhibition and testimony of salvation, not a requirement!
The thief on the cross was not baptized.

The "signs" Jesus spoke of indeed appeared with the disciples! They had been able to cast out demons before, because of the comand to "Go." (See Matthew 10:8,Mark 6:15, Luke 10:17).

The speaking with "new tongues" (different languages) was fulfilled in Acts 2.
In Acts 3, Peter and John brought healing to a lame man.
In Acts 28, Paul was bitten by a snake, and was not harmed.
These things are not natural, but they are supernaturally done by the Lord, in certain instances, in order that glory be given to Him!

The purpose of the statement concerning their well-being was to encourage them to be bold in proclaiming the Gospel!

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Acts 1:9 states: "...when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Jesus had told them what He wanted them to do: GO PREACH THE GOSPEL, EVERYWHERE!
And verse 20 says that's what they DID!

Therefore, the Gospel of Mark ends on a note of OBEDIENCE!
This relatively short account of Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection had shown that He IS God, and that we are to be obedient to His will in our lives.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.