Mark 16 | The Wolfe Notes

In 2025, we began a journey through the gospels and invited you to join us as we sought to learn from Jesus. Find all our notes, from this year and past years, at the Faith Food tab. Welcome, friends, we're so glad you're journeying with us. Let's grow together!

Our notes on Mark 16 include:

1. An Overview: Topic, Themes, and Summary.
2. An Outline of our thoughts and questions.
3. An Exploration of the signs of the believers.
4. A Reflection on Mark's ending.
5. An Invitation to Respond knowing God is waiting.

Overview

Winter Songbird by jggrz at Pixabay

General Topic

Jesus is alive! The disciples struggle to believe it.

Key Themes

Resurrection. Witness. Faith. Commission. Fear.

Summary

After Jesus is risen, He has more work to do before His ascension. First, He must convince His disciples He has risen. An angel appears to the women, but it fails because they are full of fear. Mary Magdalene believes when she sees Jesus Himself, but no one believes her. Two disciples that He walks with along the road, don't recognize Him at first. But, when they do, they tell the other disciples. The other disciples don't believe the testimony, but they do believe when Jesus appears among them. Jesus charges them with the work they are to do: spread the good news. Before ascending, He tells them He will leave His Spirit with them to empower them for what they are to do.

Thoughts, Questions, and Connections

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, and ! a connection. Researched answers are in italics. Behold requires our attention; it marks our partnership with God.

On the Women and the Angel (Mark 16:1-8)

Read Matthew 28:1-8 for another perspective. (See our Matthew 28 notes.)

1. On the Sunday after Jesus died, the women who watched brought burial spices to attend to Jesus' dead body, (*as was customary).
1. *"The women who watched." What a title! What an honor to be known by such faithfulness. 
2. As they approached, they wondered who would move the stone for them because it was so early.
3. But, when they arrived, they saw it was already moved.
4. Inside the tomb, there was a man wearing a long, white robe, which frightened the women.
5. He tried to calm their fears, and told them that Jesus was risen.
6. He told them to spread the good news and to tell Peter to meet Jesus in Galilee.
7. The women, afraid and confused, ran way.
8. They did not talk about what they saw because of their fear.
1. This irony alludes to the Jewish audience. When Jesus commanded their silence, they told everyone; when He asked them to spread the good news, they froze. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
1. ? Didn't they though? In Matthew, didn't they spread the good news that Jesus was risen? Perhaps they only told the disciples but no one else? Is this Mark's attempt to highlight human weakness?
2. x So the women left the tomb quickly. They were afraid, but they were also very happy. They ran to tell his followers what happened. Matthew 28:8 ERV
2. The earliest Greek manuscripts end Mark here. Easy Read Version
1. It was a common authorship style to end abruptly as Mark does here. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
2. Mark, a gospel written to a Roman audience, purposefully ends in tension to connect with the feelings of his audience who also sit trembling and bewildered as they consider whether they are going to believe Jesus' story or their culture's story. "E85: Mark - Roman Gospel" from the BEMA Discipleship Podcast.

On Mary Magdalene's Encounter with Jesus (Mark 16:9-11)

1. Early on Sunday, Jesus rose form the dead and appeared first to Mary Magdalene.
1. ? I'm so confused, did Mary Magdalene go ahead of the other women? Or did she stay behind and actually see Jesus? Does it matter?
2. Mark originally ended at verse 8. Alternate endings were added to provide closure. Four endings of Mark exist. "E85: Mark - Roman Gospel" from the BEMA Discipleship Podcast.
2. (*She was very close to Jesus because) He had delivered her from seven demons.
1. ? Why is this mentioned here? Perhaps to explain why she was the only one out of all the women who shared the news? Or to explain her relationship with Jesus.
3. Mary, seeing Jesus' followers mourning Jesus, told them that He was alive and she had seen Him. 
4. But, they didn't believe her.
1. x Then the Lord said, "Go and tell the people, 'Listen closely, but don't understand. Look closely, but don't learn.' Confuse them. Make them unable to understand what they hear and see. If you don't do this, they might really look with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their minds. Then they might come back to me and be healed!" Isaiah 6:9-10 ERV (See our notes on Isaiah 6.)

On the Two Disciples who Walked with Jesus (Mark 16:12-13)

1. Jesus then appeared to two followers as they were walking in the countryside. 
2. But they didn't recognize Him because He looked different.
1. ? How did Mary recognize Jesus, but they didn't? *Mary didn't recognize Jesus; she thought He was the gardener.
2. x He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the man in charge of the garden. So she said to him, "Did you take him away, sir? Tell me where you put him. I will go and get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and said in Aramaic, "Rabboni," which means "Teacher." John 20:15-16 ERV 
3. They told the other followers what happened.
4. But no one believed them.

On Jesus' Address to His Disciples (Mark 16:14-18)

1. Then, Jesus appeared to the 11 and criticized their faith.
2. He charged them with spreading the good news.
3. Believe, confess, and be saved, or be found guilty.
1. ? Does verse 16 imply salvation only through baptism. 
2. *There were two forms of baptism, a ritual cleansing and a repentant cleansing. To be baptized is a declaration that you are choosing the way of Jesus. It's saying, "Follow Me as I follow Him. I wash myself of my way and choose His way."
3. *Also, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire, which is automatic when you believe. It was people who baptized with water. (See Matthew 3:11 ERV)
4. If you believe, you will be given power over demons, languages, snakes, and toxins. You will have healing power.
1. ? What?!? So if I can't, then I don't believe? Or is this metaphorical? *R
2. x The Spirit gives to one person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy, and to another the ability to judge what is from the Spirit and what is not. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages, and to another the ability to interpret those languages. I Corinthians 12:10 ERV

On Jesus' Ascension (Mark 16:19-20)

1. Then, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat at the right side of God. 
2. The followers carried out their mission in the Lord's power.
3. The miracles they performed proved the truth of their message.
1. *Which was necessary at the time.

Explore

What are the signs at the end of Mark all about?

Verses of Reference

And the people who believe will be able to do these things as proof: They will use my name to force demons out of people. They will speak in languages they never learned. If they pick up snakes or drink any poison, they will not be hurt. They will lay their hands on sick people, and they will get well. Mark 16:17-18 ERV

Why the Signs Matter

1. As proof. Miracles, then and now, spark faith. They encourage both the people who are preaching the gospel and the ones that hear it.
2. To build the church. The power was granted to the apostles at that time so they could build the church. It is not necessary now because Christ's church is established.
3. Vary according to need. Not every believer will be able to perform every miracle all of the time, but rather will be able to when God requires it of them.

Curiosities of this Passage

1. Only in Mark. This list of signs given to believers are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. However, all of the signs mentioned were performed. 
2. Questionable Ending. Most scholars believe Mark 16:9-20, which includes these verses, to be inauthentic because they do not exist in the earliest Greek manuscripts.
1. Two alternate endings for Mark were recorded:
1. The women tell the men that Jesus rose, and then Jesus commissions them.
2. Jesus explains the change in authority and expresses concern for the future.
2. The rough transitions, unique phrasing, and inconsistencies of the alternate endings all contradict with Mark's writing style. In contrast, ending the chapter at Mark 8 fits Mark's style and tone of amazement.

Related Scripture

1. One day we were going to the place for prayer, and a servant girl met us. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell what would happen in the future. By doing this she earned a lot of money for the men who owned her. She started following Paul and the rest of us around. She kept shouting "These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how you can be saved!" She continued doing this for many days. This bothered Paul, so he turned and said to the spirit, "By the power of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!" Immediately, the spirit came out. Acts 16:18 ERV
2. As the Scriptures say, "Using those who speak a different language and using the lips of foreigners, I will speak to these people. But even then, they will not obey me." This is what the Lord says. And from this we see that the use of different languages shows how God deals with those who don't believe, not with those who believe. And prophecy shows how God works through those who believe, not through unbelievers. I Corinthians 14:21-22 ERV
3. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this. Acts 2:4 ERV
4. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the Holy Spirit had been poured out as a gift also to people who were not Jews. Acts 10:45 ERV

*Concluding Thoughts: Actually, it makes a lot of sense to me that Mark would end his gospel at verse 8. The rest was added on to better summarize post-resurrection events, and to give clearer direction to believers in the future. We should read the ending of Mark knowing it was written by different authors. I do not believe that a believer is required to perform these signs as proof of their belief, but rather, I believe that God is fully capable of working through every believer to perform miracles so that we will all grow in faith.

Sources:

1. "Mark 16:17-18" commentary at Bible Hub
2. "Should Mark 16:9-20 be in the Bible?" at Got Questions

Reflection

With grief, profound loss, and devastation, the women approach. How could their Savior have died? What comes next?

With wonder, curiosity, and caution, they see the stone is rolled away. Rushing in, perhaps, with concern for their Savior, they are met by an unknown man clad in white.

With fear, on high alert, and assuming the worst, they listen as he explains that Jesus isn't there (Duh!), He's risen (Huh?), look at the place where He lay (Oh!).

With confusion, wonder, and fright, they leave. A thousand questions fill their heads. How did this happen? Where is Jesus now? What if others find out? So, they rush to fulfill their mission, telling no one along the way. 

Then the chapter ends.

The book ends.

We're left in confusion, wonder, and fright.

What now? 

And so, to fill the discomfort, future scribes craft an ending. They tie a pretty bow on the book. But what if Mark's intent was to make us feel the tension.

What now?

Yes, you're confused. There remain so many unanswered questions. So many doubts. So many unexplained events. Too many heartaches. Too many unanswered prayers. Too many broken dreams. Too much loss.

What now?

Yes, you know wonder. You look in children's eyes and see it. You witness miracles and believe it. You commune with Jesus and experience it.

What now?

Yes, you know fear. Though you know your God is strong, mighty, and able, you also know evil exists. You know it creeps into your mind, it torments your loved ones, it plagues this world. And He isn't here; He's gone. You feel alone. 

The wonder just leads to more confusion. The confusion leads to more fear.

So, what now?

Maybe Mark did not want a well-worded conclusion with clear direction. Maybe he wanted each of us to sit in our discomfort and our fear so we are forced to wrestle with the mystery of Christ in our own minds. We know the truth: Christ, the Anointed One, is not here. He is risen.

So, what now?

There is no clear direction, no twenty question quiz designed to tell you what Christ's resurrection means to you personally and how you should respond. No, there's tension, there's doubt, there's mystery. Leaving you, and you alone, to decide, "What now?"

Respond

Connect

God is waiting.

Reflect

• Mary, Mary, and Salome went early to meet their Savior; their hearts drove them there. What drives you to meet with your Savior? Even when you don't feel a need, or a pull, to meet with Jesus, what helps you to remain faithful in meeting Him anyway? 
• They were asked to spread the good news, but in fear remained silent. Can you relate? When do you remain silent when you have His good news to share? Pray for opportunity, courage, and guidance.
• The apostles were given signs to help others (and themselves) believe the message they were spreading. What gives you confidence in the message you are spreading?

Act

• Arise! Meet with your Savior.
• Arise! Share the good news.
• Arise! Recognize the signs and wonders; He is with you.

In Closing

Father God, You sent Your only beloved Son to be my Savior. He died and rose again so that one day I can join both of You eternally. But, in the meantime, I'm stuck here in the middle where I have to live with a lot of questions that have no good answers. In the middle of my discomfort, remind me of my purpose: to think, to speak, to watch, and to live for You.

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