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Mark 16

20 verses

TL;DR

Women discover an empty tomb and an angel announces Jesus’s resurrection; the disciples doubt at first but are later commissioned to preach and promised miraculous signs.

Summary

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome arrive at the tomb early on the first day of the week and find the great stone rolled away. Inside, a young man in a white garment tells them Jesus, crucified and dead, is risen and instructs them to inform the disciples and Peter that He will meet them in Galilee. The women flee, afraid and amazed, and tell no one. Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, then to two disciples, and later to the eleven, rebuking their unbelief and commanding them to evangelize. He promises that belief and baptism will save, while disbelief will condemn, and that signs such as speaking in tongues and healing will follow. Finally, He ascends to the right hand of God, and the disciples go forth preaching everywhere, confirming the word with signs.

Outline
  1. Women find the empty tomb and receive the angel’s proclamation.
  2. Jesus appears to Mary, the disciples, and rebukes their unbelief.
  3. Commissioning of the disciples, promise of signs, ascension, and worldwide mission.
Themes
ResurrectionFaith versus unbeliefCommissioning of believers
Keywords
resurrectionangelempty tombfaithunbeliefcommissionascensionsigns
People
Mary MagdaleneMary, mother of JamesSalomeJesusPeterthe eleven disciplesyoung man/angel
Places
the tombGalileethe country
Things
sweet spicesthe great stonea white garmenta young man/angel
Key Verses
  • Mark 16:3: The angel’s announcement of Jesus’s resurrection sets the stage for the following events.
  • Mark 16:8: Women’s fear and silence highlight human reaction to divine revelation.
  • Mark 16:13: Jesus rebukes the disciples’ unbelief, emphasizing faith as a prerequisite for witness.
  • Mark 16:15: The commission to preach the gospel worldwide is the pivotal missionary mandate.
  • Mark 16:20: The ascension and promise of signs confirm the authority and continuity of the ministry.
Questions
  • What does the women’s reaction to the angel’s message reveal about human fear and faith?
  • How does Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples’ unbelief challenge modern believers?
  • In what ways does the commission in Mark 16:15 reflect contemporary mission strategies?
  • What is the significance of the promised signs, and how might they be understood today?
  • How does the narrative of the ascension in this chapter connect to the early church’s sense of authority?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter presents hopeful resurrection news but also harsh admonitions of unbelief.