Easter: Not the ending we’d expect

Last week, we read the account of the woman at Bethany, anointing Jesus for burial. And we discussed how this was a “too early” anointing, and possibly and accidental anointing. Her outpouring of love was recast as an anointing by Jesus, trying to defend her when the disciple think her act to be frivolous, and possibly helping all of those present to understand that these predictions Jesus had been making about suffering and laying down his life were really about to happen.

This week, we see the women have prepared for a (what will turn out to be, too late) anointing for burial.

Friday was a disaster and they have not been able to care for their dead in the ways that they know they must. And that they want to. Because they loved this man. They loved Jesus.

They had come to the tomb, prepared to anoint Jesus’ body, worried about the stone and how they would get it moved. Prepared for something that would turn out to be nice but unecessary. And worried about the wrong thing. The stone was not going to be the problem.

The gospel of Mark has included many instances of Jesus healing someone or setting someone free and then telling them not to say anything. Mark has taken great pains to highlight this, leaving his readers to think, “That silly/naive Jesus. As if the now-seeing blind man is going to be able to keep the secret.)

Mark ends with a cliffhanger…

Mark has the audacity to end his gospel with an unseen Jesus, and these women seemingly terrified into silence. End scene. Roll credits.

Or does he?

Reading

Mark 16:1–8 NIV

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

This is not the ending of the gospel story we were expecting.

And clearly, others were dissatisfied with the ending, because there is a note in your bible that likely says, “vs 9-20 are not found in the earliest manuscripts”

THink about your favourite Easter morning moments… they’re very likely NOT in Mark.

-no post-resurrection sightings

-no race to the tomb (john 20)

-no calling Mary by name in the garden

-no Emmaus road

-no disbelieving the women

-no Jesus appeaing in the locked upper room to terrified disciples or showing wounds and nail marks to Thomas

-no breakfast on the beach

Paint the picture of Mark’s readers…who is in the room…

But Mark ends like THIS?

With Mark 16:8

Mark 16:8 NIV

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Picture Mark’s original readers/hearers…

As they read/hear the gospel, they look around and giggle because this one who wasn’t supposed to say anything is right there. And here’s the people who came to follow Jesus because of their story. And so when they get to the last section… huge wink. Because though the women may have initially been terrified into silence, everyone in that room knows that this isn’t the end of the story.

And so, Mark’s cliffhanger does something brilliant… it leaves us with an invitation into the story. Will WE run away terrified? (And if we do, it’s okay, we all know that’s not the end of the story)

Will we go and tell - even those people who won’t believe us. Who will mistrust and discount our testimony?

Will we go on to meet Jesus in Galilee?

We have told the story, entered into the story this morning.

Our lives are intertwined with the life of Jesus - with his birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension … Jesus is our Risen Lord.

Pray with me.