‘And when the Sabbath day was past Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices that they might come and anoint him.' Mark telescopes the account. He is not concerned about the detail but the basic facts. He tells us first that these three had to buy more spices once the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS IS RISEN (16:1-8). The Sabbath went slowly by, and then the grieving women went to buy spices in order to anoint Jesus' body. Approaching the tomb with heavy hearts, they wondered how they would be able to move the stone that barred the entrance. But they never dreamed of what they were going... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And very early on the first day of the week they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. And they were saying among themselves, “who will roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?”' We can not tell it from the narrative but the ‘they' now excludes Mary Magdalene, and includes other women w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And looking up they see that the stone is rolled back, for it was very large.' On reaching the tomb what a surprise they received. The stone had been rolled back. Possibly their first thought was that Mary had found help and had arranged for it to be moved.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And entering into the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were amazed.' The entrance to the tomb would probably be low so that they had to stoop to enter, and the interior in semi-darkness, while the tomb itself would probably be just over two met... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he says to them, “Do not be amazed. You seek Jesus the Nazarene who has been crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” ' The angel's message is simple. Jesus the Nazarene is no longer there for He is no longer dead. He is risen. The place where His body had be... [ Continue Reading ]
“But go and tell his disciples, and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.' ” These words reflect Mark 14:28 where Jesus, to encourage them, had said, “After I am risen I will go before you into Galilee.” The words would act as an assurance that the one... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they went out and fled from the tomb. For trembling and astonishment had come on them. And they said nothing to anyone for they were awestruck.' The effect on the women was predictable. They had been living with nerves stretched for some time. They were in a state of fear and uncertainty. And... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene from whom he had cast out seven devils. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen of her disbelieved.' Note the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And after these things he was revealed in another form to two of them as they walked in the country, and they went away and told it to the rest. Nor did they believe them.' Having appeared to one, Jesus now appeared to two. This confirms His desire to test His disciples. They now receive testimony... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And afterwards he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at their meal, and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he was risen.' The constant stress on their unbelief, even heightened here, suggests an Aposto... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said to them, “You go into all the world and preach the Good News to every creature (or ‘the whole creation'). He who believes and is baptised will be saved, But he who disbelieves will be condemned.” ' The risen Jesus repeatedly told the disciples that they had a ‘worldwide' mission (Matth... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out devils, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them in any way. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.' ‘Signs.' That is signs tha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.' ‘The Lord Jesus.' A fitting final declaration that Jesus was now ‘the Lord'. He was made both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36), given the name that is above every name (Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.' This final summary indicates the obedience of the Apostles to the Lord's command, and the fulfilment of His promise about the signs that would follow. They preached ‘e... [ Continue Reading ]