Mark 16:9-13

Passage

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene.  Prior to the crucifixion, Jesus had earlier cast seven demons out of her.  While Jesus’ disciples were mourning and weeping over Jesus’ death, Mary went to them and told them that Jesus had appeared to them.  When the disciples heard that Jesus had been seen by her, they did not believe.  Jesus also appeared to another pair of disciples.  These disciples went back and told the rest, but they did not believe these disciples either.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Many people think that Mark 16:9-13 is an alternate ending, perhaps even designed to replace Mark 16:8.  In this ending of the story, we have a different point of emphasis.  Here the emphasis is not on the women and their fear about carrying the message forward.  Rather, the emphasis is on Jesus’ disciples and their refusal to believe the testimony that they hear.  There is no reason to not believe either ending.  The women being afraid to be the first to carry forth the message is absolutely understandable.  However, Jesus’ resurrection is pretty unbelievable and we know from the Gospel of John that the disciples did have trouble accepting it at first until they experienced Jesus for themselves.  There is no reason to say that any of these verses in Mark 16 are in conflict with one another.  They simply focus on different aspects as the word of Jesus’ resurrection first spread.

Why is Mark a neat Gospel in that these different “endings” allow us to focus on different reactions to the news that Jesus is raised?  How can we see each of these different reaction sin the world today?

Second Thought:

The disciples seem to have difficulty believing that Jesus is alive.  From the perspective of a modern believer, this may sound strange or even spiritually weak.  We come from a line of about two millennia of believers who have no trouble accepting that Jesus was raised from the dead.  However, imagine being the first of that line of faith.  Imagine seeing Jesus crucified from afar and knowing that you were probably next.  Imagine trying to go from mourning because of what you saw and hearing that other people have suddenly begun to see Jesus alive.

Why is there reason to have a little pity upon the disciples who lived through the time of the crucifixion and resurrection?  If you think about it, who doesn’t have trouble in the beginning of faith honestly believing that Jesus was raised back to life?  Why is it something that requires faith rather than logic?  Is it true for you that Jesus is something easiest believed in after a person has experienced Him?

Third Thought:

Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene.  Jesus then also appears to a pair of unnamed disciples.  We continue to see that in the end, God spoke through people who up until now hadn’t had a major role in the story.  This doesn’t diminish the role of the disciples.  They will have their role in the developing early church.  But it does reinforce the idea that there are no small roles in the kingdom.  We may feel under-acknowledged and unnoticed, but God takes notice and is willing to use us.  In the end, it really doesn’t matter what human beings give us credit.  What matters is how we are relating to God.

Have you ever felt like a “small pawn” in God’s kingdom?  Why can that be frustrating?  What does this passage say to how God can use you?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 16:14-20