MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St. Mark

St. Mark 16:9-14

=====

FROM VERSE 9 in this last chapter of Mark's Gospel we have a problem. You will notice that in the NIV and almost all Bible versions, there is a note after verse 8 telling us that these last verses in Mark's Gospel are not in most of the reliable early manuscripts. There is no doubt that there is a different literary feel about the writing and expression in these verses than in all the rest of the Gospel. I have no doubt myself that this conclusion of Mark's Gospel was added later by someone else, perhaps with the sanction of Mark, though this is not important. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit was not in the inspiration of these verses just as he inspired Mark in the infallible writing of the rest of the Gospel. However special care needs to be taken in the interpretation of verses 17 and 18 or else they will be made to say things not in tune with the rest of Scripture. There is no doubt that for the Gospel to end at verse 8 is rather abrupt and the verses from 9 onwards do round of the history.

We are looking at verses 9 to 14 for this week. In verses 9 to 11 we have two important historical facts which support the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. The first is that Mary saw Jesus alive. Jesus by deliberate action showed himself to Mary, and gave her no doubt that he was alive. We have this incident recorded for us in John 20:10-18. The resurrection was not an idea or dream thought up by the disciples, because they wanted to give themselves some hope. It is a fact supported by actual meeting with the risen Lord.

This evidence is supported by the second fact. We are told that although Mary told the disciples she had seen the Lord, they did not believe it. Far from dreaming up the resurrection and perpetrating a fiction, they at first refused to believe something that they felt was unbelievable and impossible. This scepticism in the disciples at first is strong proof that the resurrection took place. They were forced to believe by the overwhelming witness of those who saw Jesus, and the fact that they saw Jesus themselves.

The fact of the resurrection is very important because Christianity falls to the ground if the resurrection did not happen. Without the resurrection there is no final atonement for sin; no end to death the curse due to sin; no victory over the devil and no hope of eternal life.

Verses 12 to 13 continues the evidence for the resurrection and adds to it something about the resurrection body of Jesus which is of great interest and blessing.

There is the account of the two disciples returning home to Emmaus which is recorded by St.Luke in detail. The importance again of this event is that the disciples plainly were perplexed by the tales they had heard that Jesus was alive, and they were very reluctant to believe such an impossible thing. Jesus walks with them in their journey and expounds the scriptures to them and is made known to them when he said grace before the evening meal. It is this difficulty in believing which we see throughout the narratives of the resurrection, which is seen again when these disciples told their story, that gives us assurance that the resurrection did take place, for the evidence, specially of sight and touch, overwhelmed all the scepticism of the disciples.

There are many who deny the resurrection because they know that if they accepted it, the implications would mean that Jesus is their God to be obeyed and trusted, and they don't want that. The truth is that the resurrection is the best attested historical fact there is. Our faith is on a sure and secure foundation.

The other thing to notice in these verse is the fact that we are told Jesus appeared in a different form. The Luke account tells us that the disciples did not recognize him at first because he was changed. The truth is spectacular. Jesus had received a new heavenly resurrection body. It was a glorified body suitable for the heavenly realm. It ceased to have all the limitations and afflictions of our earthly bodies. This was why it looked different at first. But when Jesus was recognize there was no doubt that it was Jesus, specially as he had the marks of his suffering in his hands, feet and side.

We can rejoice in this change because we shall be changed and receive a similar glorified body at the resurrection.

Lastly in verse 14 we are told that Jesus appeared to all the eleven disciples together. This is corroborated by John in his Gospel, so there is no doubt about this appearance. Jesus in love comes to all the disciples, and others with them, so that they may be absolutely sure that he had risen and completed perfectly and fully his work to atone for the sins of the world, and that they may be firsthand witnesses to this glorious truth. Jesus wanted the disciples to be comforted and assured of their forgiveness and acceptance before God, and then also that their preaching may be supported by complete assurance of the truth they proclaimed.

Every believer can rejoice in this assurance and this foundation on which our faith is built. It is a sure foundation which cannot be shaken. Resting our souls for eternity in Jesus is the safest and best thing we can do. Because Jesus rose from the dead we know we will also rise, and that now in this life we have this resurrection life given us by new birth.

Jesus also at this time of visiting the disciples rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith in the testimony they had been given to the resurrection. Unbelief is not good. It is a sin. There is no excuse for unbelief for the evidence is overwhelming. Faith is not a leap in the dark, but the believing of irrefutable facts and the consequences which follow from those facts. We are not asked by God to take chances on insufficient evidence or facts. Let us take comfort from this also, and press this truth whenever we share the Gospel.