Mark 16:1-8, The Resurrection

[The New Testament never describes the resurrection. It tells us the tomb was empty and that the disciples saw the risen Lord.]

¹ When the Sabbath was past [approximately 6:00 pm on Saturday], Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James [and Joses], and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him [in an act of love and devotion, having no expectation of the resurrection]. ² And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen [around 6:00 am], they went to the tomb. ³ And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. [The stone was moved by an earthquake, per Matthew, for the benefit of the women, not to let Jesus out for he has already risen.] ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. [Matthew identifies him as an angel. Luke records two men while John records two angels.] ⁶ And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. [The same women who saw him placed in the tomb see the tomb empty.] ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter [the only male disciple named, adding more evidence to the Mark/Peter theory] that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” [The climax of Mark is the resurrection without which Jesus’ death is tragic.] ⁸ And 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. [This is likely the original ending of Mark.]