Speaker: Daniel Deininger
Date: May 17, 2023
Message Summary
In Mark chapter 16, the final chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the Bible, the narrative focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his subsequent appearances to his disciples. Here is a summary of Mark chapter 16:
The chapter begins with three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, visiting Jesus’s tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week after the Sabbath. They were concerned about who would roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb. However, when they arrived, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. Upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe, who informed them that Jesus had risen from the dead. The man instructed them to go and tell the disciples, especially Peter, that Jesus would meet them in Galilee.
The women were astonished and afraid, but they followed the angel’s instructions and fled from the tomb. They were trembling and bewildered and did not say anything to anyone initially.
Later, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, who had been with him during his ministry. She went and told the disciples, but they did not believe her. Jesus had cast out seven demons from Mary Magdalene, and she became a faithful follower.
Afterward, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of his disciples who were walking in the countryside. They also went and told the rest of the disciples, but they still did not believe.
Finally, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their lack of faith and hardness of heart, as they had not believed those who had seen him after his resurrection. Jesus then commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and proclaim the good news to everyone. He told them that those who believed and were baptized would be saved, and those who did not believe would be condemned. He mentioned that they would have the power to perform signs and miracles as they went about preaching.
Following his instructions, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them, confirming their message with accompanying signs.
This concludes the Gospel of Mark, emphasizing the resurrection of Jesus, his appearances to his followers, and the commissioning of his disciples to spread the good news of salvation to the world.
Discussion Questions
- Why didn’t they believe?
- Why did they have “hardness of heart”?
- What is the difference between unbelief and hardness of heart?
- Is this how many others respond when they first hear of Jesus being resurrected from the dead and now alive today? Including maybe yourself? Therefore, shouldn’t we cut others some slack if they are slow to believe
- How do you think Peter felt when he heard Jesus was resurrected?
