Mark 16

The Resurrection

¹When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.

²Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

³They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

⁴for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.

⁵Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.

⁶He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him!

⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”

⁸They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.

The Longer Ending

⁹Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

¹⁰She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

¹¹When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.

¹²After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them as they walked, on their way into the country.

¹³They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.

¹⁴Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table; and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to the whole creation.

¹⁶He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

¹⁷These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;

¹⁸they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

²⁰They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

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Mark 16 presents the resurrection of Jesus through the discovery of the empty tomb by three women who encounter an angel announcing Christ's victory over death. The chapter includes Jesus' appearances to Mary Magdalene and the disciples, culminating in his commission to preach the gospel worldwide. The longer ending (verses 9-20) emphasizes the disciples' initial unbelief, Jesus' final instructions, and his ascension, establishing the foundation for the church's mission.

Context

This chapter serves as Mark's climactic conclusion, transforming the narrative from Jesus' death and burial in chapter 15 to his resurrection triumph and the launch of the worldwide Christian mission.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
The Women at the Empty Tomb Three women arrive at dawn to anoint Jesus' body but discover the stone rolled away from the tomb.
5-8
The Angel's Announcement A young man in white proclaims Jesus' resurrection and instructs the women to tell the disciples, but they flee in fear and silence.
9-11
Appearance to Mary Magdalene The risen Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, who reports to the mourning disciples who refuse to believe.
12-13
Appearance to Two Disciples Jesus appears in different form to two disciples traveling to the country, but their testimony is also rejected.
14-18
Commission of the Eleven Jesus appears to the eleven disciples, rebukes their unbelief, and commands them to preach the gospel with accompanying miraculous signs.
19-20
Ascension and Mission Jesus ascends to heaven and sits at God's right hand while the disciples fulfill the Great Commission with divine confirmation.

The Resurrection

16:1–16:8

gospel narration fearful

Women disciples discover Jesus' empty tomb and receive angelic announcement of his resurrection with instructions to tell the disciples. They flee in fear and amazement, initially telling no one.

person_contrast

Mary Magdalene, who typically appears as a bold witness to resurrection events, here paradoxically flees in trembling silence despite receiving the ultimate victory announcement.

The Longer Ending

16:9–16:20

gospel narration triumphant

Jesus appears to his followers after resurrection, commissions them to preach the gospel worldwide, and ascends to heaven. The disciples go forth preaching with miraculous signs confirming their message.

person_contrast

Mark's longer ending uniquely portrays Jesus promising miraculous powers to believers rather than exercising divine authority himself, reversing his typical role from miracle-worker to miracle-enabler.

Insight Character Study

Mary Magdalene, who typically appears as a bold witness to resurrection events, here paradoxically flees in trembling silence despite receiving the ultimate victory announcement.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Mark 16:1 5 references

Lexicals 5

Mark 15:40 Lexical

There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less and…

4 shared words

Luke 24:10 Lexical

Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the a…

Mark 16

The Resurrection

The Longer Ending

The Resurrection

The Longer Ending

Insights

Cross-References

Mark 16:1 5 references

Mark 16:2 5 references

Mark 16:3 5 references

Mark 16:4 2 references

Mark 16:5 5 references

Mark 16:6 3 references

Mark 16:7 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context

Timeline

Resurrection

Resurrection