The Gospel According to Saint Mark
Mark 16
Chapter XVI · Vol. IV, pp. 141–142
1 An angel declareth the resurrection of Christ to three women. 9 Christ himself appeareth to Mary Magdalene: 12 to two of his disciples going into the country: 14 then to the apostles, 15 whom he sendeth forth to preach the gospel: 19 and ascendeth into heaven.
1 And whena the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.1
* The whole structure of the passage here appears to show that the purchase of the spices was made after the close of the Sabbath, on the same evening—the Sabbath terminating at sunset. Luke, however, says in connection with the narrative of the burial of our Lord and the women following the body to the tomb, that 'they returned and prepared spices and ointments, and rested the Sabbath-day according to the commandment.' Luke is not so minute in his details as Mark; he here states the general facts without regard to the order in which they took place.—P.
a Mat.28.1-8. Lu.23.56; 24.1-12. Jn.20.1-18.
1 See note * in first column.
2 Andb very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at2 the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, cWho shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?3
4 And when they looked, they saw that dthe stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
d ch.15.46. Mat.27.60,66; 28.2. Lu.24.2.
5 Ande entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man4 sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.5
e Jn.20.11,12. Mat.28.6. Da.10.4,5. Re.18.1. Lu.1.12,19. Da.8.17,27; 10.8,16,17.
4 The various questions attending the history and evidences of the resurrection of Jesus will be examined when (if the Lord so will) we arrive at the last narrative, Jn.20.12.—C.
5 See note on Lu.24.4.—P.
6 And he saith unto them, gBe not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: hhe is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter6 that ihe goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
† Peter, it is most likely, would now consider himself unworthy the name of disciple, seeing he had done what none of the rest (nay, what not even Judas) had done—first denied positively—then denied contemptuously—and, lastly, forsworn his Master! He is, therefore, specially mentioned, to afford him the earliest assurance of his Lord's compassion and pardon, and of his speedy restoration to the apostolic office, he had justly forfeited by his instability.—C.
6 See note † in first column.
i Mat.26.32; 28.10,16. ch.14.28. Jn.20.19; 21.1. Ac.1.3; 10.41; 13.31. 1 Co.15.5.
8 Andj they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.7
j Mat.28.8. Lu.24.9. Jn.20.18. Ec.9.10.
7 Mark's narrative of the resurrection breaks off abruptly at this place. No reason can be assigned for it. The evangelist is not so minute in this part of his history as we find him in the earlier portions. Had we no other information, it would appear as if the women never delivered Christ's message; the fact is, however, that they communicated with the disciples almost immediately. It is by combining the four Gospels we get a clear and full view of the incidents of the resurrection.—P.
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, khe appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.8
k Jn.20.14,16. Lu.8.2; 7.37,50. ch.15.40,47.
8 It will appear even to a cursory reader that this last section of the Gospel is a fragment unconnected with what precedes, and wanting in that definiteness which elsewhere characterizes Mark. It is not found in some ancient MSS., and hence a few critics have pronounced it spurious. The weight of evidence is unquestionably in its favour, and I have no hesitation in regarding it as genuine. The probability is that Mark added it to his Gospel at a later period.—P.
10 Andl she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
l Lu.24.10,17. Jn.20.17,18; 16.20. Mat.9.15; 5.4. Je.31.18-20. Eze.7.16. Is.66.2.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, nbelieved not.
n Ex.6.9. ver.13,17. Lu.24.11,25; 16.31.
12 After that he appeared in another oform9 unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
‡ Another form. Another dress, and with a different manner—circumstances that will often so change the appearance as to render recognition very difficult, even to the most observant; and still more so to those whose hearts are too much absorbed by their own sorrows to allow them to attend to the appearance or concerns of others.—C.
9 See note ‡ in first column.
o Lu.24.13-35, with 16.31.
13 Andp they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
p Lu.24.34,35; 21.25; 16.31.
14 Afterwardq he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat,1 and rupbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.Cited in WCF 17.3
15 Ands he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.Cited in WLC 35, 63 · WCF 7.3, 28.4
16 Het that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved;2 but he that believeth not shall be damned.Cited in WLC 60, 63 · WCF 7.3, 28.4 · HC 69, 71, 73 · SC Bapt. 2
t Jn.3.3,5,16,18,36; 12.48. 2 Th.2.12. Ac.2.38; 8.37; 16.31-33. 1 Pe.3.21. Ro.10.9.
2 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. The essential thing in salvation is belief or faith. 'He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' 'Without faith it is impossible to please God.' The high place Abraham holds all through the scriptures is due to his faith. It is of Abraham alone that God ever said, 'Thou art the seed of Abraham, my friend.' Abraham is the only man of all history whom God is represented in the Bible as calling friend.
17 Andu these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 Theyv shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
v Ac.5.15,16; 28.5,8. Lu.10.19. Ja.5.14,15. Jn.14.12.
19 So then, after the Lord had xspoken unto them, he was yreceived up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.Cited in WLC 51 · WCF 8.4 · HC 46
x Jn.20.20-22; 21.15-22. Mat.28.18-20.
y Lu.24.50,51. Ps.110.1. 1 Pe.3.22. Ac.1.2,3,9; 3.21; 7.56. He.1.3; 4.14; 8.1; 10.12. Re.3.21; 5.6. Jn.16.5,28; 17.5,13.