Scripture
The angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!

Observation
On Saturday evening, after the Sabbath has ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, go to buy spices to anoint Jesus’ body. They go at sunrise to the tomb, discussing as they go how they will move the stone blocking the tomb entrance.

As they arrive at the tomb, they see the stone has been rolled away. Inside the tomb an angel is sitting. He tells them the amazing news that Jesus is no longer there for He has risen from the dead.

The women flee from the tomb bewildered by the news. They report to Peter and the other disciples.

Application
The ending of Mark is very strange. The earliest manuscripts end with the women being frightened and saying nothing.

Most Bible translations now have what they call “The Shorter Ending” and “The Longer Ending.”

It seems unlikely that Mark intended for his gospel to end at this point. There is no description of Jesus appearing in his resurrection state, which all the other gospels have. Scholars tell us that the style and vocabulary used in the two endings are different to the rest of the gospel.

So perhaps the original ending was accidentally cut off or burnt off that very first manuscript. Perhaps Mark, for whatever reason, was prevented from concluding the Gospel.

Some of these early copies of the gospel have either or both of the endings. It is impossible to know for sure what to do with the ending of Mark.

But we can rejoice at the news of the angel. Jesus Christ is not dead. He is alive. Hallelujah!

Listen
Lord, what do you want to say to me about the ending of Mark’s Gospel?

Keith, sometimes people just try too hard to figure stuff out without consulting me. Even the most devoted and diligent people can do that.

The Gospel of Mark, like the other gospels and the other books in the Bible, was inspired by my Spirit. Later, when other scribes added the endings, they were also inspired by my Spirit. The church widely accepted these endings because they (the church) were inspired by my Spirit. It was no accident.

Don’t be afraid to receive and study these older writings, even if some scholars reject them.