The Resurrection of Christ - The Ending that Secures Our Hope - Mark 16:1-8

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Introduction

If the Gospel of Mark ended with chapter 15 and the sealed tomb was the end of the story, Jesus could be classified as a religious teacher who gathered crowds, unsettled the religious establishment and was killed by the Romans. However, the Gospel of Mark doesn’t end with chapter 15.The story isn’t over, and what happens next confirms the claims of Jesus and secures the hope of all who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).

Mark began the Gospel by setting out the aim of the book. He was writing to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If the Gospel ended with chapter 15, it could be argued that the book didn’t accomplish its’ purpose; but the when Jesus rose from the dead all is confirmed: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

The Setting

As chapter 15 ends Jesus is dead; His body has been placed in the tomb and a stone has been rolled in front of the entrance of the tomb. Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night were all marked by silence at the place where Jesus was laid. Some women, however, were making plans to finish preparing His body for the grave.

The First Witnesses of the Resurrection (16:1-3)

  • A plan to anoint His body – A final act of honor – At both the cross of Christ and at His burial Mark mentions these women who remained close by. It’s these women who planned to return to the tomb as soon as possible to ensure that Jesus’s body was properly anointed for burial. They loved Him and this was a final way they could honor Him.
  • An early morning trip to the tomb – A final act of devotion – As the women made the walk to the tomb it seems they knew what they would find – a sealed tomb with the lifeless body of Christ inside. They didn’t know how they would move the stone, but for the sake of love and devotion they went, intent on finding a way. 
  • Application – Mark has mentioned these women three times – in many ways these women are examples of the kinds of Christ followers we should desire to be. When everyone else left, they stayed. They are fully in love with Jesus and fully devoted to Him.

The First Announcement of the Resurrection (16:4-6)

  • God moved the stone (v. 4) – While the women were witnesses, the work was God’s. God moved the stone (Matthew 28:2).
  • God sent a messenger (v. 5) – When the women entered the tomb they found a messenger, sent by God to meet them.
  • God raised Christ (v. 6) – The message of the angel makes it clear that Jesus is alive – God had raised Him from the dead and His resurrection was physical and real in every way (Acts 2:22-32).
  • Application – Because of the resurrection of Jesus we can be free from sin and the power of sin (Romans 6:3-14) and we can have the hope of our own resurrection. Death is no longer the end (1 Cor. 15:50-57). 

The First Results of the Resurrection (16:7)

  • There’s a message to be shared – After announcing that Jesus is alive the angel gives the women a message to share. This message for the disciples (and Peter in particular) is a confirmation of what Jesus had told them just days before – that He would be raised from the dead and that they would see Him again (Mark 14:26-31). 
  • A message of forgiveness and restoration – This message for the disciples is a reminder to them – and to Peter in particular that they had failed Jesus – just as He said they would. But Jesus didn’t come back from the dead to shame His disciples for their lack of courage and faith. He came back from the dead ready to forgive and restore (Mark 14:28–31).
  • Application – While we all have ways that we have failed to live fully for Christ, we can take hope in the fact that Jesus didn’t come back from the dead and send His disciples a message of shame and rebuke. He came to forgive and restore – no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

An Unexpected Conclusion (16:8)

  • At first it seems odd that Mark ends the Gospel on a note of fear and silence. But a quick survey of the book reminds us that this is a reaction that we find throughout the Gospel – when people see the supernatural power of God in Christ, fear is the usual first response.
  • When the women respond with fear it’s proof that they have witnessed the work of God and it is further proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be. This is a fitting conclusion, consistent with Mark’s purpose. This response from these women is a subtle confirmation: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.