A Message from a Disputed Text

Mark 16:9-13

A message from a Disputed Text

Now when [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After these things He appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.[1]

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Study released this past December, reported that nearly one-third of all Britons do not know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. A similar proportion is unaware that Jesus was Jewish or that the first man to make an appearance in the Bible is Adam. What a commentary on the dearth of vibrant Christianity in the nation that birthed the modern missionary movement when William Carey carried the Gospel to India, and in the nation that produced pulpit giants such as Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, William Sangster and Martin Lloyd-Jones. Nevertheless, and in contrast to that dismal statistic, a striking eighty-five percent of Britons did know that the event Christians commemorate on Easter Sunday was the Resurrection of the Christ.[2]

This is Easter Sunday, and I invite you to focus on the conclusion of Mark’s Gospel. During this week past, Lynda asked my what the message was about. When I told her it was “A Message from a Disputed Text,” she asked what was disputed. Verses nine through the end of the chapter are disputed. The majority of commentators caution preachers against preaching from the text. The Bible from which I am reading states, “Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9-20 immediately after verse 8. A few manuscripts insert additional material after verse 14; one Latin manuscript adds after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Other manuscripts include this same wording after verse 8, then continue with verses 9-20.” The traditional conclusion of Mark’s Gospel is, therefore, disputed.

I think it wise in light of this uncertainty to be cautious before drawing any doctrinal conclusions based solely upon this text. What the text does say must be understood in the light of the whole of Scripture. Scholars inclined to dismiss this portion of Mark as authentic have concluded that an unknown writer penned these words, perhaps because he was uncomfortable with the way in which verse eight concludes: They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. I believe it is fair to say that the vast majority of contemporary scholars, both evangelical and liberal, are convinced that Mark’s words ended with verse eight, a most disconcerting ending, indeed.

Nevertheless, it cannot be disputed that the traditional ending of the Gospel is found in the vast majority of manuscripts, and it is evident that this ending of the Gospel, bracketed though it is in most contemporary translations, enjoys considerable ancient support. What is in view today are the truths that are evident from reading this portion of the Gospel. Those truths verify the ancient understanding of Jesus’ resurrection, and reflecting the message of each of the other Gospel writers. The impact of those truths on the earliest Christians was tremendous, and the impact of those same truths still transform the people of God in this day so far removed from those initial events. Focus with me on several truths that cannot be denied as we study a disputed text.

Jesus Rose Early on the First Day of the Week — [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week. Whoever wrote this ending, and I operate on the assumption that Mark did write these words, was familiar with the central truth of the New Testament—Jesus lives. Underscore in your mind this essential truth—Christ Jesus is alive! The author makes two assertions critical to the Christian Faith within this first statement.

The author asserts that Jesus rose. The heart of the Christian Faith is firmly, irreversibly ensconced in these two words. Remove this triumphant note from the Christian message and our Faith is enervated. Unfortunately, that is precisely the tragic consequence of modern theology. Our hope is fixed upon the truth of the conquest of death, hell and the grave by His resurrection. In His victory, we become victors.

In the days of my ministry, I have presided over far too many funerals. I have no doubt that I will yet preside over other funerals, and each one will represent deep sorrow and grief for us who are left to continue through this dismal life. What message do I have for grieving families? What message will I deliver to those who question why God has permitted death to invade the sphere of hopeful people?

Perhaps I could speak of the beauty of the life of the deceased; but to speak of the beauty of a life just passed is comparable to speaking of the beauty of the wild flowers. They bloom momentarily and just as quickly they are browned by the march of time. I personally find it a dismal exercise to speak of how beautiful the flower once was. Memories are precious, but memories are transient, passing all too quickly as succeeding generations move onto the stage of life. I would not disparage holding the memories of loved ones, but I will be frank to caution that memories fade and at last die.

Perhaps I could speak of the glory of the accomplishments of the one that died. However, the glories of past achievements recede and are quickly forgotten. Quick, name the individual who broke the four-minute mile! Name the Canadian General who led the first UN peacekeeping force, set up during the Israeli-Egyptian War of 1956! Who was the first female cabinet minister in Canada? These are events of which Canadians should be generally knowledgeable, and the names of each of these individuals at one time were prominently mentioned throughout the nation. How quickly the glory of human accomplishment is tarnished.

My message of comfort for the grieving points to Christ’s victory. I tell how He gave His life as a sacrifice for sin. Then, having established that He died because of our sin, I tell all who grieve that He conquered death. I tell them that He rose from the dead, and that in His resurrection there is hope. If Jesus conquered death, then we who believe in Him will also conquer death—in Him. One of the most powerful statements found in all the words of Jesus is this, because I live, you also will live [John 14:19].

Whenever a preacher speaks of Jesus, he should quickly affirm of the Lord that, we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone [Hebrews 2:9]. There is great comfort in these words.

When those who grieve ask, “Why?” the man of God can point to the resurrection of God’s Son. Then, God will gently ask His child, “Did I raise my Son from the dead?” Of course, the appropriate answer is, “Yes, God raised Jesus from the dead.” The Father will leave matters at that point. The resurrection of the Christ is God’s answer to suffering. God will not often remove us from the situations in which we find ourselves, and, except for the return of our Lord, each of us will succumb to the last enemy. However, God will Himself be with us when we pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and He will give us hope—hope, because Jesus conquered death. This is the hope that comes from the Easter event. Jesus conquered death. He is alive. Therefore, we are not defeated, but instead, we who belong to Him live—and we shall live.

I have often cited 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 as encouragement for those who struggle in the face of the death of a loved one. There is so much comfort in those words Paul wrote, but today, I especially want to note verses thirteen and eighteen. Listen to how Paul begins this portion of the Word, and take special note of the way he concludes. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope… Therefore encourage one another with these words. Christians grieve—but they grieve in hope. Therefore, we who are believers in the Living Son of God have encouragement the world can never know.

Did you catch that victorious note? We Christians are not stoically indifferent in the face of death. Our Lord heard Mary’s sobs and He saw those with her weeping, and Jesus wept [John 11:35]. The death of a loved one wrings grief from our souls until the sorrow drips from our eyes. Despite our tears, we have hope. Our hope is firmly grounded on the knowledge that our Saviour has conquered death and therefore we face the last enemy with hope. I have often thrilled at the words of the Apostle.

This perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [1 Corinthians 15:53-57].

The author of our text also insists that it was early on the first day of the week that Jesus rose. It was indeed miraculous that Jesus rose from the dead, but that He did so in fulfilment of prophecy is more astonishing still. The Word of God prophesied from the day our first parents rebelled that the seed of the woman would experience pain on our behalf, but that He would crush the serpent’s head [see Genesis 3:15]. Contained within that prophecy, known as the protoevangelium, is the promise of a deliverer. However, the path leading to His victory over sin leads through the tomb.

If, as some foolish people contend, the resurrection of our Lord was a “spiritual” resurrection (whatever that may be), there is no hope for us. Each of us have Christian friends and loved ones who have died. If all they had was the hope of a “spiritual” resurrection, they died believing a lie. However, Jesus rose bodily; and He rose from the dead according to God’s schedule. You will recall that Jesus Himself spoke of His resurrection by comparing His stay in the tomb to Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth [Matthew 12:40].

When Mary encountered the Risen Jesus, she had to be admonished to quit clinging to Him [see John 20:17]. Thomas, the doubting disciple, was invited to touch the nail prints in the hands of the Risen Son of God and to place his hand in the place where the spear had gashed His side. Invited to handle the Risen Saviour, Thomas was also invited to believe [see John 20:27]. The Risen Master ate broiled fish with the disciples [see Luke 24:41-43]. It is as though the Spirit of God anticipated the excuses and dissimulations of unbelieving people.

John thought of Christ’s physical resurrection when he wrote in his first epistle, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us [1 John 1:1-3a].

The Jewish leaders knew that Jesus had promised that He would rise on the third day, and they therefore obtained from Pilate an order to make the tomb secure for three days [see Matthew 27:64-66]. Jesus had consistently taught that He would rise from the dead after three days [see Luke 9:22; 24:7]. Jesus rose bodily from the grave, and He did so in God’s time. That this timing of the resurrection was central to the apostolic message is evidenced in Peter’s message to Cornelius and those assembled in his house.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name [Acts 10:38-43].

Jesus Appeared to Selected Individuals —[Jesus] appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept… After these things He appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.

While writing his first letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul reminded his readers of the Gospel he preached—the Good News that is proclaimed to this day. Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me [1 Corinthians 15:1-8].

The Good News about Christ is that He died because of our sins, according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day, just as prophesied in the Scriptures, and that He was seen. There was nothing secret about Jesus’ resurrection. His was not a “spiritual” resurrection, but it was a physical conquest of death, and the evidence that He raised from the dead is that He appeared. Take special note of the stress placed upon the fact that Jesus appeared to selected witnesses.

Peter agrees with Paul that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to selected individuals. Peter attests that Jesus appeared to individuals chosen by God as witnesses [Acts 10:41], and Paul provides the names of many of those people to whom Jesus appeared. The Risen Saviour appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Later, the Risen Son of God appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time. …Then He appeared to James. Next, He appeared to all the Apostles. At last, the Living Christ appeared to Paul.

Those who witnessed the Risen Son of God affirmed the message of Easter. Witnesses testified to what they had seen, even at the risk of ridicule and persecution. The cost required as result of their testimony was extreme, and yet they persisted in their insistence that they had seen Jesus alive and risen from the dead after the crucifixion. They witnessed to His life, even though it meant persecution for all and death for most.

Witnesses who testify to a lie seldom maintain the lie in the face of persecution. People will suffer, perhaps even die, for an ideal, but no one maintains a deliberate lie in the face of death. The cost to those witnessed the Risen Son of God began immediately. The arrival of Saul of Tarsus on the scene signalled the initiation of the first sustained persecution against the nascent church. After instigating the execution of Stephen, Saul was at the centre of an unremitting effort aimed at extirpating the Christian Faith. In Acts 8:1, we read, there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Even as devout men buried Stephen, we read that Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison [Acts 8:3]. His later testimony of those days of persecution gives even greater insight into the terror campaign conducted against those who dared worship the Risen Christ. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities [Acts 26:10, 11]. Looking back with regret, the Apostle would testify that he not only persecuted the church of God violently but that he also tried to destroy it [Galatians 1:13].

However, this rabid rabbi was unable to change the testimony of those whom he persecuted, because they knew what they had witnessed. They knew also the One whom they had witnessed when He raised from the grave. They knew that Jesus was alive. Their consistent testimony was that Jesus lives, and they could not be silenced. Just so, when saints today meet the Risen Son of God, their testimony is always that He lives.

Coerced confession does not often reflect reality, nor does it reveal an individual’s true beliefs. Galileo provides an example of coerced confession. He was compelled under threat of torture to retract his statement in support of the Copernican view of planetary movement because the learned theologians were convinced that the world could not revolve around the sun. Legend says that as he arose from his knees, after adjuring his beliefs, Galileo said sotto voce, E pur si muove (It still moves). His belief did not change, but those opposed to discovering truth felt better about their ignorance.

The English Reformer Thomas Cranmer was compelled through torture to recant sincerely held beliefs, and though he recanted belief in the Reformation confessions of Sola Scriptura and Sola Gratia—Scripture Alone and Grace Alone— nevertheless, at the instigation of Queen Mary, he was sentenced to be burned. According to witnesses, the condemned divine approached the stake with a joyful countenance. Affixed to the stake and the faggots now burning, the following account of his martyrdom is provided.

“Fire being now put to him, he stretched out his right hand, and thrust it into the flame, and held it there a good space, before the fire came to any other part of his body; where his hand was seen of every man sensibly burning, crying with a loud voice, ‘This hand hath offended.’ As soon as the fire got up, he was very soon dead, never stirring or crying all the while.”[3]

Similarly, if you are a Christian, you know the reality of Christ’s resurrection. You have become convinced that the Lord Christ has risen from the dead and that you now live in Him. You cannot be silent if you are true to Him who redeemed you and who has given you life. Christ is alive and you must tell others that He lives. Our Lord does not appear to the world to satisfy vulgar curiosity; but rather He comes to the lowly heart that is wiling to receive Him and there to dwell with that one, just as He has promised. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me [Revelation 3:20].

The promise that the Risen Son of God delivered to the aged Apostle John when he was exiled on Patmos was but an iteration of an earlier promise made before His death. In John 14:23 Jesus is recorded as saying, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. This glorious promise has never been revoked. The Son of God, and also the Father, makes Himself known to the individual willing to receive Him. Christ the Lord still appears to those chosen as God’s witnesses, and they still tell of His life.

Those to Whom Jesus Appeared Told of Their Experience — [Mary]went and told those who had been with Him… They went back and told the rest. Evangelism is commanded of each Christian. Evangelism is nothing less than telling others of your experience with the Risen Christ. Evangelism is but testifying to what you know to be true.

No one should ever be compelled to speak of that which is untrue, nor should any individual be forced to speak of that of which they are not convinced. If Christ does not live, be silent. If you do not know that He is alive, keep your silence. However, if you know that He is risen from the dead, how can you be silent concerning this victory? If the Son of God is alive, and you have received life from Him, tell another of that life.

The Lord gave a promise to those first witnesses; a promise that applies also to us. Before ascending, the Master promised, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth [Acts 1:8]. The promise is dependent upon obedience to be a witness. Do you believe that Jesus is risen from the dead? Do you know that He is alive? Is your faith in this Risen, Living Son of God? Then, according to the promise of the Lord Christ, you have been born from above. The Word of God is explicit in promising that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. That same promise continues by explaining that with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved [Romans 10:9, 10].

I insist that those who are saved should be baptised, and the reason for my insistence is that baptism is the initial confession commanded of all who believe in Jesus. Throughout the Word of God, those who believed in Jesus were immediately baptised. Baptism does not make one a Christian, but because one is a Christian, he or she is expected to be baptised. One example of the close association between faith and confession is found in what we have come to know as the Great Commission. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you [Matthew 28:19, 20].

On the day of Pentecost, we read that those individuals who joyfully welcomed[4], [5] Peter’s message were baptised. To believe Christ is to welcome His reign over one’s life. Faith is nothing but the affirmative acceptance of Christ’s rule, much as a child joyfully accepts a gift.[6]

Throughout the past century, new translations of the Bible have appeared with growing frequency. Each seeks to clarify the intent of the writers of the Bible. Consequently, each new translation exhibits strengths and weaknesses. On the shelves of my library are a variety of Bible translations in addition to a number of copies of the Scriptures in the original and other ancient languages. One copy of the New Testament does an exceptional job communicating the intensity of the verbs used by New Testament writers. This is how that particular translation treats Acts 2:38. You must repent—and, as an expression of it, let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. The translator includes a footnote to explain his use of the phrase as an expression of it. That footnote states, “These five words [are] implied from context and usage in the Early Church.”[7]

Paul’s explanation of this point, made in Romans 6:3-11, demonstrates that baptism is the initial confession of God’s gift of life, given when one believes that Jesus is alive. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

At Easter, Christians rejoice in the knowledge that Christ is alive. His conquest of death is the focus of the Christian Faith, but Easter is no more the focus of the Christian life than is the ever-expanding witness provided through the vibrant testimony of us who are twice born as we openly identify with the Son of God who has given us life. We Christians, broken by sin and redeemed by the death of our Lord, are the continuing evidence that Christ lives. Though we readily confess that we are sinners, we are equally quick to confess that He has forgiven us all sin and made us alive through His life.

Are you a Christian? Who knows it? I don’t mean who knows that you go to church, but whom have you told of the Christ who forgives your sin? The Psalmist admonishes us; Let the redeemed of the Lord say so [Psalm 107:2].

A hymn that was once common among the dissenters, and which is no longer often heard among the churches of our Lord, is entitled “The Lord is Risen Indeed!” Listen to some of the verses of that hymn.

The Lord is risen indeed!

And are the tidings true?

Yes, we beheld the Saviour bleed,

And saw Him living, too.

The Lord is risen indeed!

Then is His work performed;

The captive surely now is freed,

And death, our foe, disarmed.

The Lord is risen indeed!

He lives, to die no more;

He lives, the sinner’s cause to plead,

Whose curse and shame He bore.

This is the Easter message, the Good News that defines the Christian Faith. Jesus has conquered death. He has appeared, and we are His witnesses. This is the message of life that is offered to all who will receive it. Will you receive His life? Scripture clearly defines this Faith. Listen to the promise of God given to each person. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9, 10, 13].

This is our prayer for each one sharing our service today, that each one would meet the Risen Lord, and in meeting Him, that each one would believe this message of life and be born from above. Believe and be saved today. Amen.

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[2] Jonathan Petre, Jesus born in Bethlehem is news for many, News.Telegraph, http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/15/njesus15.xml, accessed 15 December 2004

[3] 1556: The Execution of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, http://englishhistory.net/tudor/pcranmer.html, accessed 21 March 2005

[4] Richard Francis Weymouth, New Testament in Modern Speech (Kregel, Grand Rapids, MI 1978) 316

[5] Literal meaning of αποδεξαμενοι, cf. Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament: Baker's Greek New Testament library, Vol. 4 (Baker, Grand Rapids, MI 2000)

[6] See Hans-George Link, δέχομαι (art.) in Colin Brown (ed.), The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 3 (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 1971, 1978) 744-746

[7] Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People (Moody Press, Chicago, IL 1937, 1965, 1966) 261

[8] 1556: The Execution of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, http://englishhistory.net/tudor/pcranmer.html, accessed 21 March 2005

[9] Richard Francis Weymouth, New Testament in Modern Speech (Kregel, Grand Rapids, MI 1978) 316

[10] Literal meaning of αποδεξαμενοι, cf. Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament: Baker's Greek New Testament library, Vol. 4 (Baker, Grand Rapids, MI 2000)

[11] See Hans-George Link, δέχομαι (art.) in Colin Brown (ed.), The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 3 (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 1971, 1978) 744-746

[12] Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People (Moody Press, Chicago, IL 1937, 1965, 1966) 261