Explore the Bible: Seen

November 13, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE: We began soliciting support July 3, 2023, to continue publishing Explore the Bible lesson supplements. Each lesson has a cost of at least $50 to produce. In that time, we received only one gift of $50 designated for Bible studies. Due to lack of support, publication of Explore the Bible lesson supplements will conclude with this lesson.

  • The Explore the Bible lesson for Nov. 26 focuses on Mark 16:9-14.

Not Seen (Silence after Mark 15; Mark 16:1)

Every Sabbath of Jesus’ ministry (except for the 40 days of temptation), he spent at least part of his day with his disciples. On the Sabbath day after Jesus’ death, his followers are in agony. Shocked, consumed by guilt and fear, and exhausted, the disciples hide, knowing they are targets.

Chief priests remember Jesus’ promise to rise on the third day. Fearful his followers could steal his body and claim he rose again, they speak to Pilate. He agrees soldiers should be assigned to guard the tomb.

Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome believe Jesus’ body was not properly anointed for burial on Friday. After Sabbath ends late Saturday, they buy spices.

Early Sunday morning (Mark 16:2-3)

Very early on the first day of the work week, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome gather their spices and walk to the tomb site. They are thinking: “Who will be in the garden? Might there be trouble? Who will roll the stone away?  Will we have the courage to enter and do what must be done to honor our Lord?  Who will roll the stone back in place?”

The women are shocked to discover the stone already is rolled away. They brace themselves and enter. They see a stranger, a young man in a white robe, sitting in the tomb.

Women at Jesus’ tomb see angel (Mark 16:2-8)

Who is this young man sitting in the tomb? Where is Jesus?

As they listen to the man, who is an angel, the grief process starts to reverse itself very slowly.

The angel knows to say “He has risen.” The women discount his words.

The angel continues, “See the place where they laid him.”  Yes, the women can see it. They were here on Friday. Where is his body?  What has happened?

The angel keeps talking. “Go,” he says. Their heads are spinning, processing, confused.  Who is this?  What is he saying?  “Go, tell his disciples and Peter.”  They comprehend the word “go” and begin to acknowledge the word “risen”.

The angel contiunues talking: “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

The angel pushes them out of the tomb by re-direction in the tone of his voice. “Go.”

They are being sent away.  The spices, which were treasures, now pass from their mind. Where are they going? Away from the tomb. Something has changed!

They are confused, but they find themselves running toward the hiding place of the disciples. The angel’s words energize them. Without consulting each other, they run on—afraid.

Note: Many Bible translations contain this disclaimer, but others do not: “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.”

How could Mark conclude his gospel with no mention of Jesus’ post-resurrection words and acts? It seems unlikely that he would do that. The uncertainly about these verses extends back 1,800 years. The verses are not in Mark’s writing style. They also introduce elements—snake-handling, drinking poison— not accepted by most Christians.

Logically speaking, one of these possibilities must be true:

  • The wording in verses 9-20 is part of Mark’s original Gospel. The verses can be seen on some very old source documents. Scholars are bothered by the verses not occurring in many other very old source documents and because they do not seem to be Mark’s writing style.
  • Mark’s Gospel originally extended past 16:8 to inform about Jesus’ post-resurrection words and acts but those passages are lost forever. Copying scribes initially were unaware of the loss but guessed that it had happened. Perhaps those long-ago scribes decided Mark readers without access to the Gospels of Matthew, Luke or John need to have insight about the risen Savior. They created verses 9-20 to share critical knowledge of the resurrected Jesus appearing to people, proclaiming the Great Commission, ascending into heaven and his disciples sharing the gospel as they start the Church.
  • Mark ends his Gospel with 16:8. Scribes decide to add verses 9-20 to create a more complete gospel for those believers with no access to other gospels.

Jesus seen by many (Acts 16:9-20) 

The mystery verses tell the story of the risen Savior’s activities as believers move from grief to faith after the resurrection.

Mary Magdalene, alone, informs the disciples that Jesus is risen. Disciples are still grief-stricken and do not believe her.

A disguised Jesus on the road to nearby Emmaus explains to two companion believers how the Old Testament stories, Law and Prophets all point toward him. The men are not believed by the disciples when they tell them.

Jesus attends dinner with the disciples. He rebukes them for their lack of faith in his promise to rise from death. They believe now that they can see and touch him.

Jesus gives the Great Commission to the disciples: “Go preach the gospel everywhere. I am with you.”

Jesus ascends into heaven, promising the imminent arrival of the Holy Spirit.

Glen Funderburk has taught children’s Sunday school for many years. These lessons on the Gospel of Mark are written from the perspective of children.