Mark 15, 16

January 20, 2011

Mark 15, 16

Overview:  Trial wraps up.  The story of the crucifixion and briefly of the resurrection.

Mark is the briefest of the gospels and he is true to form here.  Mark 15 and 16 are concise and to the point and do not waste words.  Particularly in Mark 16 where we have the shorter ending of Mark and the longer ending of Mark which still really isn't all that long.  Mark is in a hurry to tell his story.  He is judicious with his words and adds nothing that does not move the story along.
Some ancient authorities, my Bible's notes tell me, have Mark 16:8 as the end of Mark's gospel.  What a way to end the story.  "So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, but they were afraid."  The End.
Stop there and the story just spills off the page.  Jesus is risen, he's on the loose and it's awesome and it's a little scary.  And maybe that's about as close to how we should feel about the state of things as one could get. Nothing has really changed here on the ground.  We live in a world where Jesus has risen and is alive and at work.  It's awesome and if we think about it and take it seriously it's also a little scary.  Mark's challenge to us is to take the story seriously.  Be awed by God who came to us as Christ, but be just a little amazed bordering on a little scared about just how such a thing can happen.  God is all around us.  The living God.  The God made known in Jesus.