Mark16

After the Sabbath, women found Jesus' tomb empty, and an angel announced His resurrection, instructing them to tell the disciples. Jesus then appeared to Mary Magdalene and later to the eleven disciples, rebuking their unbelief. He commissioned them to preach the gospel to all the world, promising accompanying signs, before ascending into heaven. The disciples subsequently went forth, preaching everywhere with divine confirmation.

The Empty Tomb Discovered

1
When Shabbat was over, Miryam of Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya`akov, and Shlomit bought spices in order to go and anoint Yeshua. ​
2
Very early the next day, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. ​
3
They were asking each other, "Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?"
4
Then they looked up and saw that the stone, even though it was huge, had been rolled back already.
5
On entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right; and they were dumbfounded.
6
But he said, "Don't be so surprised! You're looking for Yeshua from Natzeret, who was executed on the stake. He has risen, he's not here! Look at the place where they laid him. ​
7
But go and tell his talmidim, especially Kefa, that he is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there, just as he told you." ​
8
Trembling but ecstatic they went out and fled from the tomb, and they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. ​

Appearances to His Disciples

9
When Yeshua rose early Sunday, he appeared first to Miryam of Magdala, from whom he had expelled seven demons. ​
10
She went and told those who had been with him, as they were crying and mourning.
11
But when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they wouldn't believe it. ​
12
After that, Yeshua appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking into the country.
13
They went and told the others, but they didn't believe them either.

The Great Commission and the Ascension

14
Later, Yeshua appeared to the Eleven as they were eating, and he reproached them for their lack of trust and their spiritual insensitivity in not having believed those who had seen him after he had risen. ​
15
Then he said to them, "As you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation. ​
16
Whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned. ​
17
And these signs will accompany those who do trust: in my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues, ​
18
not be injured if they handle snakes or drink poison, and heal the sick by laying hands on them." ​
19
So then, after he had spoken to them, the Lord Yeshua was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. ​
20
And they went out and proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the message by the accompanying signs. ​

Study Notes for Mark 16

Verse 1

The women purchased spices immediately after the Sabbath ended at sunset on Saturday, intending to complete the burial rites for Jesus’ body, demonstrating their devotion.

Verse 2

The phrase 'first day of the week' establishes the day of Jesus’ resurrection, which quickly became the central day of worship for early Christians (Sunday).

Verse 6

This is the central announcement of the Christian faith. The angel identifies Jesus by his crucifixion (past) and confirms his resurrection (present), proving the victory over death.

Verse 7

The specific mention of 'Peter' is a gracious act of restoration, singling out the disciple who had recently denied Jesus three times (Mark 14:66-72). The meeting in Galilee was promised earlier (Mark 14:28).

Verse 8

This verse concludes what is widely considered the original ending of Mark’s Gospel. The women's silence, due to fear and amazement, creates a dramatic and abrupt conclusion, which subsequent verses (9-20) were later added to resolve.

Verse 9

Verses 9-20, known as the 'Longer Ending,' are absent from some of the oldest and most reliable manuscripts. They were likely added later to provide a summary of post-resurrection events and the Great Commission, consistent with other Gospels.

Verse 11

The disciples’ persistent 'unbelief'—even in the face of eyewitness testimony—is a recurring theme in Mark, stressing the necessity of faith to recognize the risen Christ.

Verse 14

Jesus rebukes the Eleven for their 'hardness of heart,' emphasizing that rejecting the verified testimony of those who had seen the risen Christ was a profound failure of faith.

Verse 15

This command, the Great Commission, defines the universal scope of the church's mission: the gospel must be proclaimed to 'all the world' and 'every creature' (or 'all creation').

Verse 16

Salvation is conditioned upon both belief in the gospel message and the obedience of baptism. Conversely, unbelief is the decisive factor leading to condemnation.

Verse 17

These miraculous 'signs' were promised to accompany and authenticate the preaching of the early believers, validating the divine origin of the message (cf. Heb. 2:4).

Verse 18

These specific signs emphasize the supernatural protection afforded to missionaries engaged in dangerous work, confirming the power of God accompanying their ministry (cf. Paul handling a viper in Acts 28:3-6).

Verse 19

The Ascension marks the end of Jesus’ physical earthly ministry. To be seated 'on the right hand of God' signifies his exaltation, authority, and ongoing rule as King and High Priest.

Verse 20

This final verse summarizes the success of the apostolic mission. The Lord actively collaborated with the disciples, using 'signs' to confirm and establish the truth of the preached word.

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