March 31st, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

You Didn’t Listen to Her!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of Easter Sunday, God of everyday, I am filled today with the joy of my salvation. I praise You!

Read Mark 16:9-20

[9][The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.] 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] Afterward 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 baptized 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 sick people, 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.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“But God raised him from the dead … because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24). Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Think Further

In the middle of a major change in life things often seem bewildering. Looking back, we may be able to see the pattern to what God was doing. Whether by accident or design, the oldest manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel ended abruptly with the empty tomb, at a moment of confusion for his followers. A later editor may have added this brief summary of the resurrection stories, aimed to make a particular point. 

We hear that Jesus appeared to Mary, then to a couple. When they reported it to others “who had been with” Jesus (10) they were not believed. Failure to believe the witnesses is rebuked (14) as stubborn refusal and lack of faith. This seems harsh. It is incredible that a man who has died should be seen alive. It would be natural to conclude that the witnesses were mistaken or deceived, but this was not a normal situation. These men had been with Jesus for three years and had already seen the power and glory of God revealed through the things that he said and did. If they had put aside their own stubborn egos and listened with care and attention to what Mary was saying, they could have seen that everything they had learned about Jesus pointed towards the wonderful event of the resurrection.

The writer labors the point because all over the world these disciples are now preaching the good news (15,20) to people who will only be able to learn it second-hand from the eyewitnesses. If they put aside stubborn pride and listen with open hearts to the whole Gospel from the beginning (1:1), they, too, can believe that Jesus is alive, at the right hand of God (19), able to save them from eternal death (16) and bring them into life.

Apply

What evidence for the resurrection can you share? How is your life clear evidence that Jesus is alive today?

Closing prayer

God of all hope, I truly know that the Gospel is really good news! Infuse me with joy and love so that my faith-sharing is an overflow from my heart.

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