Mark 16:1 8 – Jesus’ Resurrection
Target year level: Prep
Scripture text
Mark 16:1-8
The Resurrection of Jesus
16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Introduction
This passage is situated in a short section of the Gospel dealing with the Resurrection of Jesus. Chapters 14 and 15, preceding this text, are a Passion Narrative focusing on the suffering and death of Jesus. For some scripture scholars in ancient times, the Gospel of Mark ends at 16:8 now designated as The Shorter Ending. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible and other versions include texts collectively known as The Longer Ending (Mark 16:9-19). Texts in The Longer Ending include accounts of post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, his commissioning of his disciples and his ascension into heaven. See: Endings of Mark's Gospel and Gospel of Mark: Ending.
World behind the text
References in Mark 16:1-8 provide insight into Jewish cultural practices related to the honour and care of a human body following death. There is reference in the text to the Jewish Sabbath law that prevented Jews from engaging burial practices on the day of the Sabbath. See: Jewish Burial Practices
The authorship of the Gospel which bears the name of Mark is unknown. The Gospel writer was influenced by the stories, wisdom and leadership of Peter until Peter’s martyrdom sometime between 64 and 67 CE. The Gospel of Mark was probably written between 65 and 70 CE, after the death of Peter and towards or at the end of the four-year war between Israel and Rome; a time of turmoil, suffering and death. According to tradition, the Gospel was written in Rome. The Gospel of Mark was predominately written for a gentile community. This community needed affirmation and encouragement as they dealt with problems of persecution.
World of the text
Mark 16:1-8 is to be read in relation to Mark’s Gospel and has parallels at Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12 and John 20:1-10. Mark’s text was the first written and was probably known to the authors of Matthew, Luke and John. In Mark’s text 16:1-8, the empty tomb and the sense of alarm and bewilderment on the part of the women is central. The parallel texts of Mathew, Luke and John alter and add to Mark’s narrative reflecting a developing theological understanding in the New Testament Churches of the meaning and significance of Christ’s Resurrection. See textual parallels at: Gospel Parallels
Mark 16:1-8 seems to have been a culminating point in the original Gospel text. As such it is useful to reflect on ways in which this text relates to, and encapsulates, in a summary way, elements of the structure, content, theology, Christology and eschatology of the Gospel of Mark as a whole.
Characters in the text include three women followers of Jesus and a mysterious young man who is used by Mark both to announce the resurrection of Jesus and to reassure the women; both the women of the text and the community for whom Mark was writing. See further information about Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome and their relationship to Jesus and his ministry. Named in verse 7,Galileeis a geographical region that is significant both at an historical and theological level for Mark, for Jesus and for Mark’s Christian community and for all followers of Christ.
World in front of the text
The Gospel of Mark was written in troubled times not unlike our own. These were times of political instability, religious conflict, violence, terrorism, persecution and bloodshed. Mark’s time was full of doubt, disillusionment and insecurity. For Mark the struggle for believers was to commit to Jesus and his Good News in the face of much that seemed only Bad News.
This struggle is reflected in Mark 16:1-8 as it is throughout the Gospel text which:
- acknowledges experiences of doubt, bewilderment and confusion
- affirms the struggle to believe in the face of suffering, loss and death
- indicates the need for reassurance in the face of doubt
- exemplifies continuing care for those we love
- affirms the Christian belief that Resurrection overcomes suffering and death and is the guarantee, for Christians, that good will ultimately triumph over evil.