Sunday 20th April
Read Mark 16:5-8
“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”’ 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” (NIVUK)
The conclusion of Mark’s gospel, at least the conclusion we can be confident was written by Mark, ends in a very strange way. With the women silent and terrified and telling no one anything about what they had heard. Perhaps that in itself is the strongest evidence that we are missing the final page of the gospel.
Hypothetically though, what would it mean if this was exactly how Mark intended to finish his gospel? For there is little doubt that the women have not responded as they were instructed. They remained terrified and silent. Yet, up until this point in the narrative they are presented in nothing but a positive light. It is they who saw Jesus die. It is they who saw in which tomb He was laid. It was they who were walking before dawn to anoint His body. Yet their love and obedience failed at this final step. When commanded to tell others that Jesus is risen, they fearfully remained silent.
Perhaps we are supposed to sympathise. Perhaps we are to be bold and fearless and loud where they were not. It is certainly the challenge Christians have faced for nearly two thousand years. How will you respond?
