Mark 16: He Is Risen!
On the first day of the week the women find the tomb empty, hear that Jesus is risen, and the Lord sends his followers to proclaim the good news everywhere.
Mark 16 (WEB)
1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
4 for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.
5 Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed.
6 He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him!
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”
8 They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.
9 Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.
12 After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
13 They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.
14 Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Mark 16 (KJV)
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.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
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.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
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.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Mark 16 (ASV)
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen.
3 And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?
4 and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.
5 And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him!
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.
9 Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.
12 And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
13 And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.
14 And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Summary
Very early on the first day of the week, after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome come to the tomb with spices to anoint Jesus' body, wondering who will roll away the great stone. They find the stone already rolled back and a young man in white sitting inside, who tells them not to be amazed, for Jesus the crucified is risen and is not there; they are to tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before them to Galilee. The women flee trembling and amazed. The risen Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, then to two on the road, and finally to the eleven, rebuking their unbelief and commissioning them to go into all the world and preach the good news to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. After speaking with them, the Lord Jesus is received up into heaven and sits at God's right hand, and the disciples go out and preach everywhere, the Lord working with them.
Main Characters
- Jesus — The risen Lord who appears to his followers, commissions them to preach the gospel, and is taken up to God's right hand.
- Mary Magdalene — A faithful follower who comes to the tomb and to whom the risen Jesus first appears.
- The women at the tomb — Mary the mother of James and Salome, who come with spices and hear that Jesus is risen.
- The young man in white — The messenger at the tomb who announces the resurrection and sends the women to tell the disciples.
Key Verse
Mark 16:6 (WEB)
He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him!
Lessons Learned
- The tomb is empty because Jesus is risen, just as he said he would be.
- The good news of the resurrection is meant to be told, beginning with trembling, joyful witnesses.
- The risen Lord patiently meets even doubting hearts and turns them into bold messengers.
- Jesus sends his people into all the world to proclaim the gospel to every person.
- Jesus has risen, just as he promised. The young man says, 'He is risen! He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him!' (Mark 16:6, WEB).
- The resurrection is news to be carried to others. The messenger tells the women, 'Go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goes before you into Galilee' (Mark 16:7, WEB).
- The risen Lord meets and corrects our unbelief. Jesus appears to the eleven and 'rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart' (Mark 16:14, WEB), yet still sends them out.
- The gospel is for all the world. Jesus commands, 'Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation' (Mark 16:15, WEB).
- The exalted Lord works with his witnesses. Jesus is received up and sits at God's right hand, while the disciples preach everywhere, 'the Lord working with them' (Mark 16:19-20, WEB).
- What do the women discover when they come to the tomb early on the first day of the week?
- What message does the young man in white give them, and whom are they to tell?
- How does the risen Jesus respond to the disciples' unbelief, and what does he commission them to do?
- What happens to Jesus after he speaks with the disciples, and what do they then go and do?
- Where in your own life is the risen Lord calling you to share the good news with others?
- The women come with spices, worried about the great stone, but find it rolled away and the tomb open (Mark 16:1-4). The empty tomb is the first sign that Jesus has conquered death.
- The young man tells them not to be amazed, for the crucified Jesus is risen and not there, and to tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before them to Galilee (16:6-7). The mention of Peter shows grace to the one who denied him.
- Jesus appears to the eleven and rebukes their unbelief and hardness of heart (16:14), yet entrusts them with the gospel, commanding them to go into all the world and preach to the whole creation (16:15). Grace turns doubters into messengers.
- The Lord Jesus is received up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God (16:19). The disciples go out and preach everywhere, with the Lord working with them and confirming the word (16:20).
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to consider those in their lives who need to hear the good news of the risen Christ, and encourage glad, prayerful witness. As leader, foster joyful sharing and do not press anyone to share more than they wish.