Mark 16:1-20 King James Bible KJV

The Women at the Tomb, The Great Commission, and Jesus’ Ascension

Mark 16:1-20 King James Bible KJV. Mark 16 is the final chapter of the Gospel of Mark. It emphasizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the defining event of the Christian faith and reveals the victory over death and the beginning of the proclamation of the good news to the whole world. Jesus is risen, and His followers are commissioned to spread the news of His victory, empowered by His presence and the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16 emphasizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the defining event of the Christian faith. The chapter transitions from the sorrow and fear of Jesus’ death to the joy and awe of His resurrection. It also sets the stage for the global mission of the Church, empowering believers to go forth and share the good news of Christ’s victory over sin and death.

The Key Themes of Mark 16:

• The Resurrection: The empty tomb and the announcement that Jesus has risen form the foundation of Christian faith. Jesus’ victory over death is not just a miracle but the confirmation that He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. This chapter solidifies the hope of eternal life for all believers.
• Fear and Amazement: The women’s initial fear and silence highlight the overwhelming nature of encountering the divine. Mark’s account ends abruptly in some versions (Mark 16:8), which leaves readers with a sense of awe and invites them to respond to the resurrection with faith and proclamation.
• Commissioning the Disciples: Jesus’ instruction to go into the world and preach the gospel shows the global mission of the Church. The resurrection is not just for the disciples but for all creation, and they are tasked with spreading this good news.
• Restoration and Grace: The angel specifically mentions Peter, who denied Jesus, showing that even those who falter are restored and included in Jesus’ mission. This emphasizes the theme of forgiveness and renewal in light of Jesus’ resurrection.
• Signs and Wonders: The mention of miraculous signs accompanying believers points to the power of the Holy Spirit, which would empower the early Church in its mission. While not all signs are to be taken literally today, they signify the supernatural presence of God working through believers.
• Jesus’ Ascension and Ongoing Presence: Jesus’ ascension into heaven marks the completion of His earthly ministry but also signifies His continued reign and presence with the Church through the Holy Spirit. The apostles’ ministry, empowered by the risen Christ, leads to the spread of Christianity and the growth of the Church.

Mark 16:1-20 King James Bible KJV
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The Women at the Tomb – verses 1-8
Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome go to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. They are concerned about how they will roll away the large stone blocking the entrance, but when they arrive, they find that the stone has already been rolled away. Inside the tomb, they see an angel, a young man dressed in white, who tells them that Jesus has risen and is not there. He instructs them to go tell the disciples, especially Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee, where they will see Him. The women are filled with fear and flee, saying nothing to anyone because they are afraid.

This section is the heart of the resurrection story in Mark, confirming that Jesus has risen from the dead, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. The empty tomb and the angel’s announcement that Jesus is alive fulfill Jesus’ predictions about His resurrection (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34). The angel’s message to tell the disciples, especially Peter, shows that despite Peter’s denial, he is still part of Jesus’ plan for the future. The women’s fear and silence reflect the overwhelming nature of the resurrection event, capturing the awe and mystery of the moment.

• Significance of Galilee: Jesus instructing His disciples to meet Him in Galilee is significant because Galilee was where His ministry began. It symbolizes a new beginning for the disciples, who are now called to continue His mission of proclaiming the good news.
• Fear and Silence: The women’s reaction of fear and silence reflects the human response to the divine. The resurrection is a moment of both awe and trembling. In the original ending of Mark, this abrupt ending leaves the story open, inviting readers to respond in faith to the resurrection message.

The Longer Ending – verses 9-20
Verses 9-20 are considered a later addition to the original Gospel of Mark, not found in the earliest manuscripts. This section includes appearances of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the two disciples on the road, and finally, the Eleven (the remaining apostles). Jesus rebukes them for their unbelief and commissions them to preach the gospel to all creation, promising that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. He also speaks of signs that will accompany believers, such as casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, handling snakes, drinking deadly poison without harm, and healing the sick. The chapter concludes with Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the disciples going out to preach, with the Lord working through them and confirming their message with accompanying signs.

• Appearances of Jesus: These verses show how Jesus gradually appears to His followers after His resurrection, revealing Himself to those who were closest to Him and commissioning them to spread the Gospel.
• The Great Commission: Jesus’ instruction to preach the gospel to “all creation” is the Great Commission, marking the beginning of the missionary work of the Church. This charge applies to all believers, indicating the universal scope of the Gospel message.
• Signs and Miracles: The signs Jesus mentions, like healing the sick or casting out demons, symbolize the power of the Holy Spirit that would accompany the apostles and the early Church as they spread the Gospel. While some of these signs, like handling snakes, have been controversial, the broader meaning is that God’s power would be at work through the believers, validating their message.
• Ascension: Jesus’ ascension into heaven emphasizes His divine authority and His ongoing presence with the disciples, even as He physically leaves them. His work on earth is finished, but He continues to guide the Church from His place of power at the right hand of God.

Mark 16:1-20 King James Bible 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.