Mark 16 explained: The Empty Tomb and Its Aftermath

Women go to the tomb (vv. 1-4)

When the Sabbath, the weekly Jewish rest day that ended Saturday evening, was over, three women bought fragrant spices to anoint Jesus' body, a way of honoring the dead after his rushed burial. They worried about who would move the huge stone sealing the tomb, but found it already rolled away.

The messenger's news (vv. 5-7)

A young man in white, whom Matthew's account calls an angel, tells them Jesus has risen and points to the empty place where he had lain. Peter is named on purpose, likely because he had denied knowing Jesus, so the message signals he is still welcome to meet Jesus in Galilee.

Fear and silence (v. 8)

The women run off shaking and say nothing because they are afraid. The oldest surviving manuscripts of Mark end right here, and scholars are unsure whether Mark meant to end this abruptly or whether an original ending was lost.

Appearances and doubt (vv. 9-14)

These verses are missing from the earliest copies, and most scholars think they were added later as a summary of events told in Luke and John, such as Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus and two followers seeing him on a country road. The repeated point is that his closest followers refused to believe at first, and Jesus rebukes them for it.

Sent out with signs (vv. 15-18)

Jesus sends his followers to announce the good news everywhere, linking rescue from judgment to believing and being baptized, a ritual washing in water that marked joining his followers. The list of signs, such as driving out demons, speaking new languages and being unharmed by snakes or poison, appears only in this added ending.

Taken up to heaven (vv. 19-20)

Jesus is taken up and sits at God's right hand, a picture of the highest place of honor and authority. His followers go out preaching, and the text says the Lord worked alongside them, leading into the story the book of Acts tells.

Key verse: Mark 16:6

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether verses 9 to 20 should be treated as fully part of scripture, since the earliest manuscripts end at verse 8 with the women's frightened silence.

Something to think about

What do you make of a story about the biggest news imaginable ending with its first witnesses too frightened to say anything?