Gospel of Mark Chapter Sixteen Commentary by
Pastor Ron Beckham
Audio Sermon – Mark 16
He Is Risen
At the moment of Verse 1, the male and female disciples, and the apostles as some were now called, had no real belief that Jesus was or would be, raised from the dead. We read: “The Sabbath was past; Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint His body.” Jesus’ followers loved Him, but assumed He was simply gone.
In Verse 2, we see that it was “very early in the morning,” on Sunday, “the first day of the week,” just after dawn. The women wondered in Verse 3, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” and then in Verse 4, they found with surprise that the very large stone had already been “rolled away.” Notice that God can and will roll away the barriers in your life, just like that stone.
These brave ladies did what some might not be willing to do – they entered the tomb (Verse 5) and were shocked to see “a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side.” They didn't know who he was, but we can conclude he was an angel from God. Luke 24:4 mentions “two men” and the Matthew account differs but is similar, which is typical because we all tend to see parts without perceiving the whole. Truthful witnesses speak from differing perspectives.
This “young man” was an angel from God, presently in human form. And he said to them in Verses 6-7, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him,” which they were doing at the moment, as they stared with wide eyes at this “young man,” and then at the empty tomb. “Jesus… is (indeed) risen” from the dead.
And if we really believe “He is risen,” then we, like these women, will not be ashamed of our Lord. The women were to “tell His disciples - and Peter - that (Jesus would meet them in) Galilee” and there they would see Him, as He said. In Verse 8 they did what many people would have done – “they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Do you sometimes say nothing about the Lord because you are afraid of what people will think? It’s unfortunately very common to not mention Him. There are times to be quiet, but other times we are to speak, as led by the Holy Spirit.
The man who actually was an angel had frightened Mary Magdalene and she ran out of the tomb, telling nobody about what she’d seen. Now in Verse 9 Mary met the Lord, who gives us confidence that no other being could ever give. Jesus had risen from the dead “early on the first day of the week,” which is the same Sunday morning when Mary saw the angel, and now Jesus “appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” We can read more detail about that moment in places like Matthew Chapter 28, when Jesus calmed them with the words of Verse 9, “Don’t be afraid.” The angel had said much the same words, but only Jesus can give us peace to the extent that our fear will lessen and we can act on His behalf.
The disciples and the apostles of Jesus were told by Mary that Jesus had risen from the dead, but as we read in Verses 10-11 of this chapter, they were busy mourning His loss and weeping for Him, and had no room in their grief for Mary’s words. They knew through logic based on eye-witness testimony that Jesus was dead and therefore they would not receive any evidence to the contrary. They were right, by the way. Jesus was dead, but God has power over death and the apostles had seen God the Son raise many from the dead. They should have believed in His resurrection but did not.
An encounter of Jesus with two of the disciples as they walked away from Jerusalem is mentioned in Verses 12-13. The incident, which involved a man named Cleopas and another disciple of Jesus, was described more fully in Luke 24:13-32, as Jesus “in another form,” appeared to them as they walked and He “opened the Scriptures to them.” After “their eyes were opened… and He vanished,” they ran back to Jerusalem “and told it to the rest (of the disciples), but they did not believe them either.”
In Verse 14 we catch a glimpse of the Lord’s work in this world after His resurrection until the time of the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would enter the believers in power. Right now, “He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” We see that time in more detail in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 – “He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once… seen by James, then by all the apostles… then (Paul wrote) He was seen by me also…” Have you seen Him? Pray for “eyes” that you might see.
And now in Verse 15, in the words of Jesus we find what has been called the “Great Commission.” All of us who have placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” For you the "world" might be your family, your neighbor, friends, co-workers, or you might be called to be trained and then sent to another part of the world. We will not know until we surrender and become willing to respond to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. For me, at a time in my life when I felt too old for such things, He surprisingly called me to start an “internet church,” and we currently share Jesus with typically 5,000 people a day from 130 countries around the world. You won’t know what will happen until you say “yes.” Place your faith in Him – His will is wonderful.
Baptism is important, as you can see in Verse 16. Even if we are mute and cannot speak, our baptism sends a message that we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved by Him. The method of baptism, by the way, is less important than the message it sends. I personally like immersion because of its conformity with the first verses of Romans Chapter 6, though I have also poured the water on one because he was physically unable to be immersed. Note that “He who believes and is baptized will be saved;” but it also continues, “he who does not believe will be condemned.” It is only our faith or lack of it that determines our outcome in eternity.
Those who place their trust in the Son of God will be known in a variety of ways because of the Holy Spirit who resides in those who believe. Included in Verses 17-18 are: “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Individuals who believe are given faith, hope, love, the ability to teach, to discern and more, and you can read about these “gifts” in places like 1 Corinthians Chapter 12. And note, by the way, that none of it is done in our own strength or for human desire; it is done in the power and love of God.
The visits and encouragements by the Risen Lord lasted for a period of “forty days… speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom” (Acts 1:2). And then, when it was time for the Holy Spirit to enter deeply into their hearts and lives, “He was received up into heaven (as you can see in Verse 19) and sat down at the right hand of God.” And what is He doing at the Father’s right hand? – He is making intercession, which is to say, He is praying for you and me (Romans 8:34), by name and by need. And in addition to the Son, God’s Holy Spirit is praying for us, as well (Romans 8:26).
He reassured them in Acts 1:8, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And in that power, as seen in Verse 20 of this chapter, “they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” That same power is given to all who believe, including you, because He loves you.
Our Lord is always equipping us for service in His Name. We do not need to strive for it because it is His work, done in and through those who love Him. Do you believe? Let’s make sure:
Risen Lord, we believe in You. We give You our hearts and lives. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. We will follow You, now and forever. We praise the Holy Name of God. In Jesus Name. Amen.
