Chapter 16 of the Gospel of Mark
Observe the text to understand the author’s meaning
Read 16:1-8. Notice chapter 15 ends in darkness. . . almost as if it said, “darkness covers the face of the deep.” Then chapter 16, “in the beginning—the first day of the week”, the sun had risen. . . . “let there be light.” There is a new creation—a new heaven and earth!
Who goes to tomb? To do what? When do they go?
Do you see this as strict adherence to the pharisee’s laws about the Sabbath. To go and anoint the body would have been to work on the Sabbath.
What is the problem they foresee? What do they find? What are the words used to describe the women’s response to the empty tomb?
How do you explain the women’s response? The women would have been amazed if the man said, “they carried Jesus dead, bloody, lifeless body to Galilee.” Instead what does he say? Why do you think the women said nothing to anyone?
Notice that the first thing the women are told is again the fulfillment of Jesus prophecy. What are they told Jesus will do? Look back at Mark 14:28. Why is the fulfillment of this prophecy important?
Notice Jesus singles Peter out. Why do you think he did this?
Read 16:9-11. Who does Jesus first appear to? Is she holy? or a forgiven sinner?
What does she do? Do they believe her? What is the state of the disciples? Why don’t they believe her?
Read 16:12-13. Now who does Jesus appear to? How many? What do they do? What is the disciples response?
Read 16:14-20. Now who does Jesus appear to? How many? Notice the number of those who see Jesus increases—1 then 2 then 11.
If they did not believe until they saw Jesus themselves, what does that say about their ministries to “preach the gospel to all creation.” Are people going to believe?
What is the gospel they are to preach? Look back at Mark 1:1. Who are they to preach it to?
This is a restoration of the whole created order? The gospel of Mark is about the restoration of the Kingdom, now we see the kingdom is the whole of creation—not just Israel. Who will be saved? Who will be condemned? Do you see that salvation and condemnation are related?
See John 3:16ff. What power will the disciples have? What is the purpose of the signs? What happens to Jesus? Notice that this is a fulfillment of Mark 12:36. Jesus sits at the right hand of God. The one whom David calls Lord. And his enemies are under his feet—forever subdued.
Interpret the text
- What does this tell us about who Jesus is? Human? Divine?
- Paul said if the resurrection did not take place then our faith is futile and we are to be pitied. Why is the resurrection so crucial to our faith? What would the meaning of the gospel be without the resurrection?
- Why does there continue to be disbelief among the disciples? Are we like that today?
- Is this a continuing issue of the visible and invisible? The disciples bound by the natural order; God not bound?
- What does Jesus’ resurrection tell us about our lives?
Interpret the book as a whole
- Who is Jesus? What do we know about him? Was he bound by nature? What is his relationship to creation?
Did he judge? Heal? Restore? What is forgiveness? What happens when forgiveness is present? When does it occur? Who was forgiven? When does it not occur? Who was not forgiven?
What does sovereignty mean?
What is true worship?
Who were the disciples? What was their nature? How did they respond to Jesus? How did they behave at the end of the gospel?
Who were the religious leaders? What was their nature? How did they respond to Jesus? What do we assume they were doing at the end of the gospel?
What was Jesus’ attitude about the moral law of God—the 10 commandments? What was his attitude about the pharisee’s law?
What is the nature of good and evil? What is the difference between sin and evil? How does sovereignty relate to sin and evil? What is the nature of judgment?
Describe what it means to confess Jesus as savior? as Lord? Do you see mercy in the gospel?
What is the relationship between the visible and the invisible? Which is more “trustworthy” to follow? How do we know what the invisible is like? Where do we go to find out?
Other Comments or discussion?
Application of the book to our lives
- What does this say about our nature? Our natural response to Christ? How does an understanding of Jesus nature help us to live? Make decisions?
- How does Christ’s power help us to view our lives? How does Christ’s authority and power help us to see value and meaning in our lives?
- What does it mean for us to confess Christ Lord? When good things happen? When difficult things happen?
- How are we to live? and make decisions? What is our guide? What remedy is there when we stumble?
This study first appeared in Theology Matters, Vol. 3, No. 5 (Sep/Oct 1997).
