"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

Chapter Sixteen

On the first day of the week following His crucifixion, Mary Magdalene, Mary of James, and Salome arrive at the tomb to anoint Jesus, uncertain how the stone will be rolled away. But the large stone had been removed, and a young man in a long white robe declares Jesus risen and gives them instructions to tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee (1-8).

When Jesus rose from the dead, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene but no one believed her (9-11). He later appeared to two disciples, but they were not believed either (12-13). When Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles, He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, but then gave them the Great Commission to preach the gospel with the promise that signs would follow them (14-18). When Jesus ascended to heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God, and worked with His apostles through the accompanying signs (19-20).

POINTS TO PONDER

• The circumstances of Jesus' resurrection, and the reticence of some to believe
• The details of the Great Commission and the gospel to be preached
• The purpose of miracles that accompanied the apostles

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The resurrection of Jesus - Mk 16:1-8
   - The unbelief and hardness of heart of some to believe at first - Mk 16:9-14
   - The Great Commission and the Lord working with the apostles - Mk 16:15-20
2. Who came to the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week? (1-2)
   - Mary Magdalene, Mary of James, and Salome
3. What did they fine when they got there? (3-5)
   - The stone rolled away from the door, a young man clothed in a long white robe
4. What were the women told by the young man? And their initial reaction? (6-7)
   - Jesus of Nazareth, He is risen! Tell Jesus' disciples to meet Him in Galilee.
   - To flee, for they trembled and were amazed, and said nothing out of fear
5. What was the initial reaction of those who were first told? Why? (9-14)
   - They did not believe the eyewitnesses. Because of their hardness of hearts.
6. How were people to respond to the preaching of the gospel? (15-16)
   - To believe and be baptized in order to be saved (cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16)
7. What was the purpose of miracles that accompanied the apostles? (17-20)
   - To confirm the word being preached by those who heard Jesus (cf. He 2:3-4)