The Gospel of Jesus: The Resurrection of Jesus & Short Additional Ending

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. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 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. 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.” 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. ~ Mark 16:1-8

[[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]]


This little piece in brackets was added because, well, let's face it: who wants a gospel that ends in "they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."

And yet, that's how the gospel originally ended.

Or rather, didn't end...

Huh?

One of the best reasons I ever heard for this strange ending is that it is indeed NOT an ending. It is open ended for a reason.

The first line of the Gospel of Mark is "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

The beginning...with an ending left open ended. An ending that is not an ending.

Because the work of spreading the good news is still happening.

The women were afraid. But we know the news got out. We know that eventually they told the disciples.

We know that the Spirit came at Pentecost.

We know that the Christian faith grew by leaps and bounds.

We know that the story is far from over.


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Questions:


Why do you think Mark ended his gospel as he did? Why do you think others felt the need to add to it?

 

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