The gospel lectionary reading for Easter Sunday in Year B is the short ending of Mark 16. Despite being a short reading, it raises a lot of questions to explore.
(If you have chosen to read or speak on the reading from John 20, then the commentary on that passage is here, and the video discussion of it can be found here.)
Who were the women who came to the tomb? Why was the stone rolled away? And who is the man that they meet? What does he say to them—what is its significance—and why do they respond the way that they do?
Come and join James and Ian as they discuss all these issues, their implications, and how we might read and preach on this passage.
Interesting Ian and James we do love to hear the stories of Jesus.
The women perhaps were ignorant of the Gospel as told to the disciples and the centrality of the Cross in it.
Their actions seem to be a performing of the Last Offices – Washing the body
Anointing it and wrapping it. They did not anticipate any sort of resurrection.
Jesus was there for the duration.
Joseph having heard something of the Gospe,l like many, are much bolder in that knowledge.
I think the “and Peter” may be an expression of pity, Peter on hearing of the Cross said “[Lord] “Pity yourself”, [this cannot be]”.
The Church as with Paul are the Stewards of the Mysteries
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1, 2).
And more to the point we shall have to give an account of our Stewardship
Whether or not we have advanced it or hidden it.
Paul detailed and promoted “the mysteries” [The Bible unveils a great mystery.
Paul proclaimed “the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” (Colossians 1:25, 26). the mystery of the faith (1 Timothy 3:9), and
the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).etc.
The result was Churches planted, Churches thriving and blossoming. Churches
Expanding throughout the world. The mysteries are the Glorious Gospel
and the outcome “the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God.
Stewardship is an excellent word study for all who minister.
By the way CERN are building a device to detect “ghost particles” that can pass through walls. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68631692 Cern: Scientists search for mysterious ghost particles.
We already know about particles such as neutrinos that pass not just through walls but just about anything including the whole earth, and cant be contained in electrical or magnetic fields as they have no charge. A very naughty little particle. Perhaps Jesus’ body fluctuated between its normal and antimatter states! We also know some particles seem to do that. It’s like a magic show.
Perhaps they are looking for further examples. Though part of me gulps at the exceedingly high cost even if I think scientific endeavour is an excellent way to spend your time. But that’s another debate.
I take it the stone was moved for the benefit of the disciples rather than for Jesus to be able to leave the tomb, given the way he appears to them in the other gospels?
Regarding Mark’s ending, although it’s possible there is a long-lost longer ending, I think it’s more likely the ending we have is how he ended it – a ‘knowing’ ending whereby his audience, the early church, already knew full well, for at least 2 decades, that he had been raised and no doubt had heard the accounts from the original Twelve and others. I imagine watching Mark’s Gospel as a play, with the audience letting out a knowing murmur at the end.
Interesting thought Peter. It end with the audience carrying on the momentum with up-to-date testimony, followed by worship.
The American eclipse is topical at present. What better sign could it be than to remind us of the tombstone that eclipsed the Son for such a brief season.
PC1
March 25, 2024 at 6:56 pm thanks for this,my knowledge of particle physics is limited to the article I quoted. Still it’s great to know that science is catching up with the Bible, eh?
He is risen!
If we understand and believe only this mystery,[revelation]
which perhaps even the angel desired to look into,what effect does it have on our lives? If we have been crucified with Christ and raised up
[to be seated in Heavenly Places] how far above “the circumstances”
will we live?
Paul as a steward of these mysteries received them by revelation he says, not from the other desciples whom he did not meet for 14 years and when he did he says “they added nothing to me”.
Pauls constant prayer was that the churches might not only believe the Fact but enter into the fullness of the riches experientialy.