Week 29 – June 28
The Gospel of Mark: Peter’s Story of Jesus by Steve Petty
Bible Interpretation and study
Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath day was over, the same three women who followed his body from the cross: Mary called the Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joset, and Salome, had bought spices to anoint the body. So, very early, when the sun was just rising, they went to the tomb, it was the first day of the week.
As they were walking they were concerned about the stone that had been placed over the tomb, “Who will we get to roll away the great stone from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they arrived they found the stone already rolled away, and it was a huge stone. When they went into the tomb they found a young man, dressed all in white, seated calmly on the right hand niche, and this surprised and alarmed them. But he was quite calm when he said to them, “There is nothing to be alarmed about, be at peace. You were expecting to find the body of Jesus because he was crucified, but he is not here, he has risen. You saw them lay him here, but as you can see, he is not here.”
Then he told them to come and find me and the other disciples and tell us, “He goes before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he promised you.”
But the silly women went running from the tomb scared out of their wits. And they didn’t say a word to me or anyone else because they were so scared.
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Week 29 - “He Goes Before You”
This is a most curious ending to the story. [Clearly verses 9-20 are a much later addition, but more on that later.] Most scholars surmise that there is a fragment missing from the end. Obviously Peter did hear the story at some point, and seeing that he is so detailed in chapters 14 and 15, we would guess that he would be quite thorough in telling us how the news first came to him. Further, Jesus promises to meet with them in Galilee, which Matthew details in 28: 16-20. It is reasonable to assume Matthew’s story would be taken from, or at least similar to Mark’s.
But this is all we have, the women are so afraid they run away and they tell no one.
This is one of those stories where you know there is more to the story than you are being told.
So, what do we have? The same three women from the cross, who followed the body to the garden cemetery and watched the body be placed in the crypt: Mary the Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joset, and Salome. The faithful three! They have followed Jesus for some time and they love him. Now they watch and do what women do, prepare the body for burial. Because of the lateness in the day after the crucifixion they are unable to properly anoint the body, so now at first light, the first day, they come to do their work.
Why do they refuse to tell anyone? Remember that women in those times were not allowed to give testimony; even three women with corroborating stories would be considered an unreliable source. So, they are privy to amazing news, which they cannot verify. They have seen only the strange man in white they have not seen Jesus (at least in Mark). The weight of this knowledge, its utter improbability, and their position as witnesses, leave them terrified and unable to tell anyone.
What must we guess at? That at some point Peter was told the news. I personally like Luke’s telling in 24:12. The disciples dismiss the women as the story is too unlikely, but Peter gets up and runs to the tomb and marvels that it is empty.
Have you ever had knowledge that you could not share with anyone? How did that feel? ________________________________________________________
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How did it feel when you were finally able to tell your story? ________________
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Put yourself in the shoes of the women: what are you expecting?
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When you see the man in white, what are you thinking?
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The message that the man in white gives is three fold: he is risen, he goes before you, and you will see him. How does that new change things for you?
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