Daily Devotions

Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 353

Acts 5:24 "Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be." Acts 5:24"

Day 353 – Mark 16

“Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.” Acts 5:24

FULFILLING THE TASK ASSIGNED

Mark noted carefully that an angel, who appeared as “a young man clothed in a long white robe” gave a special word to the women who appeared at the garden tomb.

“But go, tell His disciples- and Peter-
that He is going before you into Galilee;
there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
MARK 16:7

In the longer version of the Gospel of Mark, we read the following words.

“She went and told those who had been with Him,
as they mourned and wept.”
MARK 16:10

1. In the shorter ending of the Gospel of Mark

a) The shorter ending concluded Mark’s Gospel with the fear of the women
b) This version gives no indication that the women disciples fulfilled the word given to them by the angel
c) The shorter version leaves much to be desired. It would seem as if these women were so paralysed by their fear they did nothing at all
d) But were they that fearful?
i) The women disciples were there at the Crucifixion of Jesus!
ii) They followed the men when they took down the body of Jesus and noted where they had placed His body.
iii) They were the only disciples who bravely went to the Garden tomb, early in the morning (while it was still dark).

All these acts would suggest that the women possessed courage!

2. In the longer ending of the Gospel of Mark

a) We see Mary and the other women disciples overcoming their initial fear.
b) They remembered the words of the angel and then went on to fulfil the task assigned to them.
c) The longer version would offer a more plausible conclusion of the Gospel of Mark