Mark 16

Mark 16 is an interesting chapter. In the earliest manuscripts, Mark 16 ends with verse 8. It ends with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome leaving the tomb. For the sake of today’s devotion, I want us to focus on why Mark 16:8 has a dramatic effect on our understanding of the resurrection.

Throughout the 4 gospels, the resurrection is a focal point in all of them. Although they each discuss the resurrection differently, each one clearly talks about the resurrection; except for Mark. Mark is not skipping the resurrection though. Instead, the potential ending of Mark with Mark 16:8 is a reminder of what the resurrection was really like.

We are able to look back at these events with hindsight and we know what happened. The women at the tomb did not. So, when they saw the empty tomb, they were overwhelmed for good reason! They did not know what had happened to Jesus. In their confusion, we read they did not talk to anyone immediately because they were afraid.

The resurrection was a scary thing in some ways! First, how often do we see someone resurrected from the dead? In all honesty, never. We never see anyone resurrected from the dead. But then if we keep going down that thought, Jesus’s entire life and ministry was unlike anything that anyone had ever seen. The miracles, the virgin birth, the teachings with authority, and even offering himself as a sacrifice for everyone else. It was unlike anyone else’s life.

That is why Mark 16:8 is such an important place for us to pause and consider what is going on. Mark uses verse 8 to slow us down and challenge us to reflect on everything that we have seen in Mark. Let me challenge us today to do the same. Take a few minutes and write down three things you have learned from Mark. Feel free to write more down if there are more that you are thinking about! Now, share those three things with a friend, a family member, or someone else! Unlike the women at the end of Mark, we do not need to be afraid and keep this to ourselves. Instead, we should bring this great message to the world, so join in with us in doing that today!