MARK LESSON 36
We will begin this lesson in Mark 16:1.
Mark 16:1 "And when 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."
Here, again, many believe they intended to embalm Jesus, but Jesus
was not embalmed. He was anointed with sweet smelling perfume.
Mark 16:2 "And very early in the morning the first [day] of the
week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun."
Sunday is the first day of the week. You can see from this, that
they came at the very first moment possible. It was against Jewish
law to go anywhere on sabbath (which was punishable by death). They
came at first light, at the first moment possible. They were not
coming because it was the thing to do, but because they loved Jesus.
These women were the last at the crucifixion, and the first at the
grave.
Mark 16:3 "And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away
the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"
Even though they were not sure they could get in to anoint the
body of Jesus, they went anyhow hoping someone would be there to let
them in. They showed great loyalty to the Lord.
Mark 16:4 "And when they looked, they saw that the stone was
rolled away: for it was very great."
St. John said at this sight, Mary Magdalene ran to tell the
others.
Mark 16:5 "And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man
sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they
were affrighted."
In this type of tomb, there are two chambers. One is to sit
and mourn, while the inside chamber is for the body. This young man
undoubtedly was an angel. The white garment, possibly, shows that he
was from heaven. Fear and excitement, as well, probably, came over them.
His purpose in being there possibly was to tell them.
Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek
Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here:
behold the place where they laid him."
"Angels" are ministering spirits, and the Lord had left this angel
here to minister to those who came seeking Him. What wonderful news.
HE IS RISEN. In this instance, He was specifically called "Jesus of
Nazareth". There was no mistaking, He was the one. Don't you know that
many of the things Jesus had told them about how He would rise again
came flashing into their minds? What joy, He was alive.
Mark 16:7 "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he
goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto
you."
Here, we see the angel telling these women to carry the good news
of the risen Christ to the other disciples. Peter was specifically
mentioned, because Peter probably believed that Jesus would not want to
see him, because he denied Him three times.
Mark 16:8 "And 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."
This would be a very frightening experience. Their amazement and
joy were paled by their fear of being in the presence of this angel.
Mark 16:9 "Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of
the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
seven devils."
Mary loved Jesus, because He had freed her from the bondage of
these seven devils. Here again, we see He first appeared to a woman
(Mary Magdalene), mainly because there were no men there to appear to.
I believe this was specifically mentioned to show that women have been
set free by Jesus to follow Him the same as the men. She was, in
fact, like the first missionary. She carried the first gospel message
to the disciples.
Mark 16:10 "[And] she went and told them that had been with him,
as they mourned and wept."
They had forgotten that He said He would rise on the third day.
They mourned, because they felt there was no hope. Can you imagine how
they felt when she told them? Some, probably, did not believe her, but
others began to see a glimmer of hope, but still could not bring
themselves to believe that she was telling the truth. They wanted to
believe, but couldn't.
Mark 16:11 "And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and
had been seen of her, believed not."
Their recollection of His telling them that He would rise again
had been totally forgotten. They had never seen anyone rise before,
and they did not believe her. It reminds me so much of our day. You
can tell someone of a wonderful experience that you have had with God,
and they don't believe you. The only time it becomes real to them is,
when it happens to them.
Mark 16:12 "After that he appeared in another form unto two of
them, as they walked, and went into the country." Mark 16:13 "And they
went and told [it] unto the residue: neither believed they them."
This whole group would not believe, until they saw Him for
themselves. The 24th chapter of Luke has a detailed account of Jesus
appearing to the two disciples. Read it for more information on this.
It was no different when the two disciples told that Jesus was alive,
than when Mary Magdalene told them. They did not believe it.
Mark 16:14 "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at
meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart,
because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen."
Here, Jesus scolded the disciples for not believing what Mary and
the two disciples had told them about His resurrection. He had
predicted it before the cross. They just had not received this into
their hearts. Of all who should have believed, it should have been the
disciples or the eleven, as they were called then.
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature."
This is called the "great commission". It is just as valid to each
of us as it was to the followers of Jesus of old. The gospel shall be
preached in all the world, and then shall the end come. Ministers (men
and women) are called to go, preach and baptize. You can't sit at
home twiddling your thumbs and get any one saved. Preach the good
news of Jesus Christ to every one who will listen. By the foolishness
of preaching, people are saved.
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned."
The first step to salvation is believing that Jesus is our
Saviour. In Romans 10:9-10, we read that believing in the heart is
the important thing, and then telling someone is the next. Baptizing
is an outward show to the world what has happened in your heart. The
new birth occurs in your heart. If you have a brand new heart, washed
in the blood of the Lamb, then you want to be baptized (buried in a
watery grave to rise again to newness of life with Him). Those who do
not believe are lost, because without faith it is impossible to please
God.
Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;"
Mark 16:18 "They 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."
This is really tough. Do you believe? Have you cast out any
devils in Jesus' name lately? Is your tongue brand new? Have you
done battle with any serpent lately? The serpent, you know, is that
old Satan himself. We must remember that "greater is He that is in me
than he that is in the world". If you are truly Jesus' follower (a
Christian), He will protect you from the enemy. Notice, I didn't say
we had the power, I said Jesus has the power. We just use His power.
He lets us use His name, if we are His. One more question. How many
sick have you laid hands on lately? These signs shall follow them
that believe. Examining these Scriptures one by one shows us quickly
where we fall short, doesn't it?
Mark 16:19 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."
Forty days are gathered in this sentence. Over 500 saw the
resurrected Lord during this forty days. He truly was carried to
heaven on a cloud, and does even now sit at the right hand of the
Father, for His work of salvation is done. He told us that from the
cross, when He said, "It is finished".
Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the
Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen."
After they finally believed, they went and preached. Can they
say that about us? After we believed, we went and preached. The Lord
confirmed His Word. As they ministered in His name, He healed and
showed great signs.
I hope something in this study has stirred you to go out and win souls
for Christ.
Louise Haney
Notes
Mark 36 Questions
1. Who came to the sepulchre as soon as sabbath had passed?
2. What were they there to do?
3. In verse 2, what day was intended?
4. How early was their arrival at the tomb?
5. What question were they asking each other as they went?
6. When they looked, what did they see?
7. St. John said at this point, Mary Magdalene did what?
8. When they entered the sepulchre, what did they see?
9. When they saw this, what effect did it have on them?
10. Why do you suppose he was in the tomb?
11. What wonderful news did the angel give them?
12. What are angels?
13. Who is Jesus specifically called by the angel?
14. What did the angel tell them to do?
15. Why do you think he specifically mentioned Peter?
16. Where did the angel tell them Jesus was?
17. What did the angel tell them to do?
18. Who did Jesus appear to first?
19. How many devils had Jesus cast out of her?
20. What were the others doing, when Mary went to tell them?
21. What was their reaction, when she told them?
22. Who did Jesus appear to on the road?
23. Did the disciples believe them?
24. What did Jesus upbraid the eleven for?
25. What is known as the great commission?
26. Who told them to do it?
27. What are the signs that follow?
28. In verse 17, this commission is to whom?
29. In verse 16, who shall be saved?
30. Do you believe? Are these signs following you?
31. How many days was Jesus on earth after the resurrection?
32. How many saw Him after the resurrection?
33. Why is He sitting at the right hand of the Father?
34. Have you been stirred by this study to go and reach others?
Notes
Home