After Easter

The Resurrection

Mark 16:9–13 NLT

9 After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. 11 But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her. 12 Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. 13 They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

The Disciples’ Disbelief “That the disciples were slow in believing our Lord’s resurrection was not so much a weakness of theirs as it is our strength. For the resurrection itself through their doubts was manifested by many proofs; and whilst we read and acknowledge them, what do we but become firmer through their doubting?” - St. Gregory of Nyssa, Catena Aurea Commentary on Mark

vs 12 appearing to two disciples “But He was seen of two; because faith in the resurrection is to be preached and shewn to two people, that is, the Gentiles and the Jews”. - Servanius

vs 13 “the others” is the residue, meaning beyond the 11 disciples

Mark 16:14 NLT

14 Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

The Great Commission and Signs of a Believer

Mark 16:15–18 NLT

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

“[The Great Commission] seems to have been given at this appearance. It may, however, have been a summary of final instructions that Jesus repeated over and over during His 40 days of ministry after the resurrection.” - Henry Hampton Halley, Halley’s Bible Handbook

vs 18 - snakes & poison “But not by their own choice. God never calls us to try any such experiments.” - John Wesley, Explanatory Notes

Jesus’s Ascension

Mark 16:19–20 NLT

19 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

“by the right hand itself we understand the power which He as man received from God, that He should come to judge, who first had come to be judged. For by sitting we express habitation, as we say of a person, he sat himself down in that country for many years; in this way then believe that Christ dwells at the right hand of God the Father. For He is blessed and dwells in blessedness, which is called the right hand of the Father; for all is right hand there, since there is no misery.” - St. Augustine