Mark 16

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.

Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.

He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him!

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”

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.

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.

She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.

After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them as they walked, on their way into the country.

They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.

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.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to the whole creation.

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;

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.”

So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records the resurrection of Jesus, the initial reactions to the empty tomb, and his appearances to his followers, culminating in his ascension and the commissioning of the disciples to proclaim the gospel to all creation. It marks the climax of Mark’s Gospel, fulfilling the earlier promises of Jesus’ victory over death and his ongoing presence with those who believe.

Flow.

The women come to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week, only to find the stone rolled away and a young man declaring that Jesus has risen (vv. 1–6).
They receive a commission to announce the resurrection and are told the disciples will see Jesus in Galilee, but respond with fear and silence (vv. 7–8).
Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, then to two others, and finally to the Eleven, rebuking them for their unbelief (vv. 9–14).
He sends them into the world with a universal mission, ascends to heaven, and empowers their preaching through accompanying signs (vv. 15–20).

Connections. Following chapter 15, where Jesus’ death and burial are recounted, this chapter provides the essential answer to the tragedy of the cross: God has raised Jesus from the dead. The empty tomb and the angelic declaration confirm the victory over sin and death. The promise of seeing Jesus in Galilee (echoing 14:28) is partially fulfilled in the resurrection appearances and sets the stage for the ongoing mission of the church, which the book of Acts will take up after Jesus’ ascension. Though Mark’s Gospel ends with the disciples’ fear, it moves toward proclamation, preparing the reader for the global spread of the gospel.

What it teaches. The resurrection is the pivotal act of God confirming Jesus as the victorious Lord over death, fulfilling his own predictions (WCF 4.1; LC 53). The angelic declaration, “He has risen,” affirms the bodily resurrection of Christ, a cornerstone of Christian hope (; HC LD 17). Jesus’ appearance to the Eleven underscores that forgiveness is extended even to those who doubted (HC LD 6), and his command to preach the gospel to all creation establishes the church’s mission (WCF 7.6). Baptism and belief are set forth as means of inclusion in salvation, while unbelief results in condemnation (WCF 28.5). The ascension confirms Christ’s exaltation at God’s right hand (WCF 8.4; HC LD 18), where he reigns and works through his word and Spirit.

Apply. The risen Christ, now at God’s right hand, empowers his church to proclaim the gospel with urgency and confidence in his sovereign authority.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.