Slices
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'"It is true! The Lord has risen and he has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread' (Luke 24:34,35).
Bible passage
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterwards Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on people who are ill, and they will get well.’
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Explore
This section is not found in all manuscripts of Mark but as Tom Wright says, 'it can prompt us to think about our own discipleship'.* Imagine the excitement of those two who encountered Jesus on the road (v 12; Luke 24:13–35). I'll wager they ran back to the disciples pretty quickly!
We make much of Christmas today, yet it's only part of the story. Without Easter we can have little idea of its significance. I suspect that none of the disciples began to get the whole picture until Jesus entered that room (v 14). There is nothing like welcoming the presence of the Almighty! We have to see the Jesus story through to the end: new life with the Lord in heaven.
So we have walked with Jesus, his disciples, his betrayer, his crucifiers and also those who sought to anoint his wounds, but instead found themselves anointed by his presence. Two thousand years on, we too can be anointed by his presence. He calls to us in the 'breaking of bread' (v 14). Can we say 'Thank you, Lord' and invite him in?
*Tom Wright, Mark for Everyone, SPCK, p224
Respond
'Lord Jesus, from the Father, we receive you with joy! Fill us to overflowing with your Holy Spirit, that our joy be all the greater and everlasting! Amen!'
Deeper Bible study
Spend time reflecting on why you believe that Jesus is alive.
The verses we read today may not have been written by Mark, but they have been treated as part of Scripture since the early second century. They seem to bring together information that is also in the other Gospels and add one or two unique features. The women did not publicise the message they had received, but later we have a series of appearances of Jesus. The vital fact that Jesus is alive does not just depend on an empty tomb and an angel’s message, but on people meeting with the risen Lord themselves. Part of the authenticity of the story is the slowness of people to accept its truth. Until they see him, they will not believe.
This presents a problem for subsequent generations to whom the message is to be preached. If Jesus does not appear to them, will they believe? Central to the passage is Jesus’ rebuke to the eleven disciples who would not believe the testimony of others.1 There will be signs of the continuing power of Jesus, but the call is to respond to the preached gospel. The testimony of the eyewitnesses is crucial.
The Gospel ends with Jesus sending out his disciples into all the world. The stark choice is presented: belief signified by baptism brings salvation, but a lack of belief means condemnation. Unlike with Luke’s Gospel, there is no second volume to chronicle the fulfilment of the commission. Mark’s final verses tell us that Jesus has returned to his Father’s side, but he also worked with the disciples as they obeyed his command and gave signs to confirm his word. On this Easter Day we have the same message to proclaim: Jesus has died, was raised and ascended to heaven. This is our Saviour and our God.
Pray for all those proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection today: that their word may be believed.
1 John deals with the same issue in 20:29
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 5,6; Psalms 40,41
Pray for Scripture Union
As we celebrate the resurrection, pray for the 95 who may have no sense of the life that Jesus came to bring. Pray too for the many youth leaders and workers who try to come alongside them to share this great message.
