Abrupt Ending
| When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as he told you.' " Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark16:1-8) |
While there is another section that follows, scholars are pretty convinced that this is where the original gospel of Mark ended. Next week we'll look at the "longer ending" and understand the role that it plays.
For now, let's consider this piece as the "shorter ending."
Let's bear in mind that for Mark and the early church, the Resurrection was never in doubt. Christians were being persecuted and martyred and they faced their death with hope and praise because they were utterly convinced of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit had been poured out on them, the church was growing like wildfire, and they were not afraid of dying for their faith. In writing his gospel, Mark wasn't defending the resurrection, he was making sure that the stories about Jesus that we think he was hearing through Peter's sermons, would not be lost to future generations. (Think about how abruptly Mark began his gospel. No birth and infancy narratives - just straight into the account of Jesus' ministry.)
So this "abrupt ending" is not so abrupt when we consider Mark's style and purpose. Throughout the gospel Mark has been short and economical, writing like a newspaper reporter: short, sharp and punchy.
When it comes to the resurrection he's doing the same.
He describes:
- the first eye-witnesses.
- their journey to the tomb and what they experienced.
- what they saw: The stone rolled away and the angel sitting inside
- what they heard: Jesus is not here. He is Risen. Tell the disciples and Peter "Go to Galilee"
Then he describes the women leaving, trembling and bewildered, not talking to others at this point.
And that's the original ending.
It's a puzzling note to end on.
From the other gospels we know that Jesus Himself appeared to Mary Magdalene and that the women eventually told the disciples. We know that Peter and John ran to the tomb and that John believed. From John we know that Peter left bewildered and wondering what happened. From Luke we know that Jesus appeared to Peter all by himself.
Maybe this is the clue that Mark is leaving us. He emphasises that the angel told the women, "...tell the disciples and Peter..." Maybe Mark wanted his readers to understand that the women struggled and that Peter struggled, but everybody knew that the tomb remained empty, the Holy Spirit came, and the Early Church found courage.
