‏ Mark 16:2

The Resurrection

Though the Lord has said that He will rise on the third day, the women come with spices to anoint Him. They buy them as soon as the Sabbath is over. Although they want to do something that didn’t have to happen, the women show a mind that suits people who love the Lord. He is everything to them. But Mary of Bethany is not there. She anointed Him and did so before His burial (Mk 14:8). She took in all His words (Lk 10:39) and believed that He would rise. He had also spoken about this (Mk 8:31; Mk 9:31; Mk 10:34).

It is very early on the first day of the week. That indicates the new beginning. The day of the resurrection is Sunday. As the women reach the place where death reigns, the sun rises. Death is conquered, the sun appears. Fear can disappear, a new period begins. The women do not yet see anything of the new that has come with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They face a great difficulty. They cannot roll away the stone that closes the tomb. How are they to anoint His body now? They can’t think about the resurrection for a moment.

When they get to the tomb, they see that the great stone has been rolled away. Their problem isn’t there. The stone has not been rolled away to let the Lord out, but to let them in. They go into the tomb and see a young man sitting there. The young man is an angel. He possesses everlasting youth because he does not belong to earth, but to heaven. His appearance impresses.

Mark notices that he is sitting at the right side and that he is clothed in a white robe. The whole appearance fits the great event of Christ’s resurrection. Death has been conquered, something new has arisen. The resurrection laid the foundation of a new creation. “Young man” speaks of the everlasting freshness and power of the new. That he is “on the right” speaks of the eternal righteousness of the new. It is Christ’s place with God (Mk 16:19). That he is clothed in a white robe speaks of the everlasting result of the new: everyone who participates in it is clean and pure before God (Rev 7:9). The young man from Mark 14 (Mk 14:51) contrasts with this young man. That young man wanted to follow in his own power, the power of the flesh. Then there can only be failure.

The angel reassures the women. He knows that they are looking for Him Who they know as the despised Jesus from the despised Nazareth. With these words he expresses his appreciation for them. It is the appreciation of heaven because they have committed themselves to that Person. He also reassures them about their beloved Lord. The angel can tell them that He is risen. He is no longer in the tomb. They can convince themselves. They just have to look at the place where they laid Him. That place is empty.

The angel sends them away from the tomb with a message from the Lord for His disciples. He tells them to tell the disciples where to find Him. He also tells them to tell Peter specifically. This will give him the assurance that the Lord loves him and wants him to be there as well.

The angel does nothing but remind them of something the Lord said earlier about His resurrection and the place where they can see Him (Mk 14:28). The Lord always comes first. If we follow Him, we will see Him. What He said then was the reason for Peter’s statement that he would never deny Him (Mk 14:28-29). The message of the women will be a great encouragement to Peter.

In all their love for the Lord, they cannot cope with the encounter with heaven. They are not ready to hear heavenly things. It frightens and astonishes them and they flee. They dare not talk to anyone about it. Later on they will learn the richness of it. The Lord knows their sincerity and will answer their love.

Copyright information for KingComments