What does Mark 16:9 Mean?

Study Notes

Now when
The passage from Mark 16:9 to the end is not found in the two most ancient manuscripts, the Sinaitic and Vatican, and others have it with partial omissions and variations. But it is quoted by Irenaeus and Hippolytus in the second or third century.

appeared

Jesus

The order of our Lord's appearances would seem to be: On the day of his resurrection:

(1) To Mary Magdalene John 10:14-18 .

(2) To the women returning from the tomb with angelic message Matthew 28:8-10 .

(3) To Peter, probably in the afternoon Luke 24:34 ; 1 Corinthians 15:5 .

(4) To the Emmaus disciples toward evening Luke 24:13-31 .

(5) To the apostles, except Thomas Luke 24:36-43 ; John 20:19-24 . Eight days afterward:

(1) to the apostles, Thomas being present John 20:24-29 . In Galilee: (1a) To the seven by the Lake of Tiberias John 21:1-23 .

(2) On a mountain, to the apostles and five hundred brethren 1 Corinthians 15:6 . At Jerusalem and Bethany again:

(1) To James 1 Corinthians 15:7 .

(2) To the eleven Matthew 28:16-20 ; Mark 16:14-20 ; Luke 24:33-53 ; Acts 1:3-12 .

To Paul:

(1) Near Damascus Acts 9:3-6 ; 1 Corinthians 15:8

(2) In the temple Acts 22:17-21 ; Acts 23:11 .

To Stephen outside Jerusalem Acts 7:55 .

To John on Patmos Revelation 1:10-19 .

Verse Meaning

The NIV has supplied "Jesus." The Greek text says, "Now after He had risen." The antecedent of "He" is obviously Jesus, but the lack of this antecedent in the immediately preceding context seems to some interpreters to indicate a major break between Mark 16:8-9. Perhaps the writer did not feel he needed to name Jesus since He is the obvious antecedent. ^[1] [source]

The writer may have described Mary Magdalene as he did here to explain why she was at the tomb. Jesus" had done a great thing for her, and her love for Him was consequently very great. Perhaps the writer described her as he did to identify her more precisely since she becomes an important figure here for the first time in Mark"s Gospel. Mary had returned to the tomb after she had left it ( Mark 16:1-8). Evidently people could not naturally perceive Jesus for who He was unless Jesus revealed Himself to them (cf. Luke 24:16; Luke 24:31). ^[2] [source]

Context Summary

In the dim light the women brave the dangers of an Eastern city and hasten to the grave. How often we seek Christ in the grave of old experiences or of dead and empty rites; and how often we cherish fears for which there is no occasion! In the grave where Christ had lain a young man was sitting, arrayed in a glistening robe; so out of death comes life. And one result of the Savior's resurrection has been that myriads of noble youths, clothed in garments of purity, have gone forth to shine like the dewdrops of the morning sparkling on the bosom of the earth. God's angels are always young. We who are the children of the Resurrection in the life of eternity will grow always younger, as here our bodies are ever growing older. The ministry of Galilee and Jerusalem is at an end, but the spirit of the Master goes forth to new victories in the Acts of the Apostles. Note the mighty power of faith, the signs that follow its manifestation in simplicity and purity; demons cannot resist it, serpents are rendered harmless, and healing streams flow from contact with it. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the risen Christ sitting at the right hand of God, and believe that he is ever working by our side and confirming our words, Hebrews 2:4 [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 16

¹  An Angel declares the resurrection of Jesus to three women
⁹  Jesus himself appears to Mary Magdalene;
¹²  to two going into the country;
¹⁴  then to the apostles;
¹⁵  whom he sends forth to preach the gospel;
¹⁹  and ascends into heaven