Mark It!

The oldest and most reliable versions of the Gospel of Mark end in an odd way. They end with the women coming to the tomb and hearing from the angels that Jesus has risen, and then it says… “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” The obvious question is why… There is a lot of speculation, but it seems to me that one of the best answers is that the writer, Mark, is making a point. Everyone who would have read this Gospel would have heard that Jesus had risen from the dead. If the women “said nothing,” then no one would have known of their experience. Obviously, they did tell someone. The very first words of Mark are… “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ…” That’s sort of a title. His book is the beginning, and those who were reading it were mostly believing Christians. A good possibility is that they were under persecution and hiding. As they remind themselves of the stories, experiences, and truth of Jesus in their lives, two things may have occurred to them. First, the book they hold is only “the beginning,” and, second, if they are only “trembling… bewildered…afraid… and telling no one,” then they are living with an enormous truth and not sharing it. The end of the book is a challenge to all believers in Jesus, who must stop being afraid and tell other people, “Death is not the end.” The Christian church has a celebration of Easter for 50 days, all the way to Pentecost. One fifth of each year is given over to celebrate the risen Christ. Mark’s challenge is a good word for all of us to hear… Jesus (and those of us who know him) is the beginning of the Good News from God that “Death is not the end!” Mind the exclamation point! Blessings, Geoff