Daily Bread 2011 - Mark 16
Daily Bread 2011 – Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 Mark 16:8
“Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”
What Does This Mean?
This is the last verse of what many feel is the original version of Mark’s Gospel. Most bibles include verses 9-20, though most of the earliest manuscripts do not include it in the original version. One can imagine why as church history rolled on why some who want to amend (or what we call in biblical study “redact”) this ending as it is rather abrupt and leaves out a lot of post-resurrection details that the other gospels including.
Most biblical scholars feel Mark is the earliest gospel and that Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark as their primary source but then both took from another source to add more details to their gospel. Since Matthew and Luke are both quite a bit longer this makes sense.
But what can we make of this possible original ending to the earliest gospel. After all they had come to the tomb to prepare Jesus for his final burial and the stone was rolled away and an angel gave them this tremendous news. But I personally think it is a pretty honest and real reaction to actually happened and very plausible.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We often like to tie the bible up into nice neat bows, and yet there are many passages that leaving us saying “what???” To me this adds to the authenticity of the biblical witness, not detracts. Obviously we prefer the ending where the women ran out and told the men and the men started enacted the Great Commission by telling the whole world, but we know in life things do not usually work that smoothly.
And even in our own lives there are times we experience something powerful from God and are privy to some unique revelation, and we say nothing to anyone because we are afraid. Over time with some reflection and realization, we can share our story with others, but sometimes we need time to process.
When we realize the incredible reality of the literal resurrection of Jesus sometimes it is so overwhelming we don’t have words to say and we need to be alone to contemplate our next step. And I think sometimes this is okay.
Heavenly Father when we consider the awesome truth of Your Resurrection we want to reflect and think about Your awesome power and love. Help us create space in our lives to ponder this awesome truth and even reflect on it in private if necessary. Amen.
“Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”
What Does This Mean?
This is the last verse of what many feel is the original version of Mark’s Gospel. Most bibles include verses 9-20, though most of the earliest manuscripts do not include it in the original version. One can imagine why as church history rolled on why some who want to amend (or what we call in biblical study “redact”) this ending as it is rather abrupt and leaves out a lot of post-resurrection details that the other gospels including.
Most biblical scholars feel Mark is the earliest gospel and that Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark as their primary source but then both took from another source to add more details to their gospel. Since Matthew and Luke are both quite a bit longer this makes sense.
But what can we make of this possible original ending to the earliest gospel. After all they had come to the tomb to prepare Jesus for his final burial and the stone was rolled away and an angel gave them this tremendous news. But I personally think it is a pretty honest and real reaction to actually happened and very plausible.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We often like to tie the bible up into nice neat bows, and yet there are many passages that leaving us saying “what???” To me this adds to the authenticity of the biblical witness, not detracts. Obviously we prefer the ending where the women ran out and told the men and the men started enacted the Great Commission by telling the whole world, but we know in life things do not usually work that smoothly.
And even in our own lives there are times we experience something powerful from God and are privy to some unique revelation, and we say nothing to anyone because we are afraid. Over time with some reflection and realization, we can share our story with others, but sometimes we need time to process.
When we realize the incredible reality of the literal resurrection of Jesus sometimes it is so overwhelming we don’t have words to say and we need to be alone to contemplate our next step. And I think sometimes this is okay.
Heavenly Father when we consider the awesome truth of Your Resurrection we want to reflect and think about Your awesome power and love. Help us create space in our lives to ponder this awesome truth and even reflect on it in private if necessary. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment