Mark 16 – The Resurrection and Commission
Mark 16 is the glorious conclusion of the Gospel: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. The chapter highlights the power of the resurrection, the fear and astonishment of the witnesses, and the global mission given to His followers.
From the Tomb to the Nations
Mark 16 reveals the victory of Jesus over death. The women find an empty tomb, the angel announces Christ’s resurrection, and the disciples are commissioned to carry the Gospel to all creation.
✔ The tomb is empty—He is risen.
✔ Fear and awe strike the witnesses.
✔ Jesus appears to His followers.
✔ The Great Commission is given.
✔ Christ ascends in glory.
📖 Key Verse: “He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” – Mark 16:6
🔎 The resurrection turns sorrow into joy, and fear into bold faith.
Mark Chapter 16 - Overview
Mark 16:1-8 – The Empty Tomb
📖 Mark 16:3-4 – “Who shall roll us away the stone…? And… it was rolled away.”
🔎 Human worry meets divine power. The women come with grief and confusion, but find the impossible already done.
📖 Mark 16:6 – “Ye seek Jesus… He is risen; he is not here.”
🔎 The angel’s words declare the heart of the Gospel. Death could not hold Him—He has conquered the grave.
📖 Mark 16:8 – “They trembled and were amazed… neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.”
🔎 Early manuscripts end here, emphasizing the awe and fear that gripped the witnesses. Resurrection is not just a comfort—it is a divine shockwave.
Mark 16:9-20 – Appearances and the Great Commission
📖 Mark 16:9 – “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene…”
🔎 The first messenger of the resurrection is a woman once possessed by demons—a reminder that God redeems and restores the broken to carry His glory.
📖 Mark 16:14 – “He upbraided them with their unbelief…”
🔎 Even the closest disciples struggled to believe. Jesus corrects them not to shame, but to prepare them for bold witness.
📖 Mark 16:15 – “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
🔎 This commission is global, urgent, and inclusive. The message of the empty tomb must echo to the ends of the earth.
📖 Mark 16:20 – “The Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”
🔎 The early church’s boldness was matched by divine confirmation—God works through those who go.
Mark Chapter 16 - Deeper Study
Overview: Victory, Witness, and Glory
🔹 Timeframe: The third day after the crucifixion and the days following.
🔹 Setting: The empty tomb, the Upper Room, and beyond.
🔹 Theme: Jesus is alive, and His followers are called to tell the world.
Key Takeaways
🔑 The resurrection is the foundation of our faith.
🔑 God uses the weak and overlooked to deliver powerful truth.
🔑 Even fear and doubt can become boldness through grace.
🔑 The Great Commission is for every believer.
🔑 Christ is alive and still working through His people.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Jonah’s Sign – Three days and nights prefigured Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 12:40).
🔮 Psalm 16:10 – “Thou wilt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” fulfilled in Jesus rising.
🔮 Daniel 12:2-3 – Foreshadows the resurrection of the righteous and the glory of gospel witness.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Women as Witnesses – In Jewish courts, female testimony was often dismissed—yet God chose women to be the first proclaimers of the resurrection.
📜 Resurrection Hope – The resurrection was not widely expected in Jewish thought except at the end of time. Jesus’ resurrection redefined the future.
📜 Gospel Mission – Roman and Jewish persecution made Gospel witness dangerous—but the early church’s courage ignited a movement.
💡 Final Reflection: Will You Tell the World?
The tomb is empty. The King is alive. The call has gone out.
📌 Will we stand in awe—or step forward in boldness?
📌 Will we remain silent—or speak of what we have seen?
📌 Will we live for comfort—or live to proclaim Christ?
🚀 He is risen indeed. Let the world hear it.
The Resurrection
Mar 16:1 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.
Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Mar 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mar 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mar 16:5 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.
Mar 16:6 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.
Mar 16:7 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.
Mar 16:8 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.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Mar 16:9 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.
Mar 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
Mar 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mar 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
The Great Commission
Mar 16:14 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.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 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.
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Date Written
Around 55-65 A.D.
Written By
John Mark
Language
Greek
Verses
20