Mark 16:8 - Fearful Women

Mark 16:8
They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Message: Fearful Women

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been crucified on Friday and then breathed His last after crying out after 3pm. Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate if he can bury Jesus (rather than just throwing him into a pit). Joseph buys linen and wraps Him in it and places Him in a tomb, rolling the stone shut. 3 women - Mary Magdalene, Mary (His mother) and Silome are nearby and on Sunday they head to Jesus to anoint Him more properly for burial. My Jewish rule it has been 3 days since he died. Upon getting to the tomb the stone has been rolled away. They enter and a young man (angel) tells them that Jesus has risen and Jesus will see them shortly in Galilee. They are to tell the other disciples and Peter.

They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them. It is noteworthy that the first witnesses of the empty tomb are women. Yet, 1st century Jewish culture did not view the testimony of women as reliable. As we know Christianity hinges on the resurrection. Just recently I heard someone say there was no resurrection. Satan knows this and he has attacked this and pressed this thinking into worldly minds. If there is a resurrection people must accept Jesus, but to question it is to question its relevance and therefore question the entire theology of the gospel. In that light, if the assertion is that it is made up or false, then why would those making it up cite women as the first witnesses when they were not a trusted people group of the day? There would be no common sense in this.

The record is of these women is trembling and astonishment. The command by the young man (angel) to them was to go and tell the disciples and Peter. But there response recorded in this verse is instead - and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Instead of confidence and excitement gripping them, it was fear instead. And there response was to not tell anyone.

What is interesting here is verse 8 is the last verifiable verse of this gospel. This is likely the last words of Jesus in verses 9-20 are thought to have been written by someone else. So, what would the response of Mark have his audience have with a verse that says the two women left and fled, were trembling and told nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Whether they are the last verses or not, the message is still that Jesus rose. The responses of the women here is something else. I must say I never knew this. I didn't know that verse 8 was possibly the last verse written by Mark for this gospel.

Regarding them not speaking to anyone. It is possible this non-speaking was simply because they were headed back to Jerusalem, the Holy City, the City in which the people had just crucified Jesus, and so these women possibly wanted to keep these words to themselves. So it's possible that keeping it to themselves did not mean that they would not follow through on the words told to them by the young man, but that immediately, it was not good to speak the words to the people in Jerusalem. There mission was to speak to the disciples and Peter and not necessarily the people in Jerusalem.

And perhaps there is nothing more that Mark needs to say. The resurrection is the culmination of Jesus' life. He said 3 times he would die and be resurrected and this is now what has occurred. Obviously, what was said by the young man would come true because everything about Jesus' life has been the truth thus far.

Summary - It is possible verse 8 is the last of Mark's words for this gospel. His words are that after the women have heard that Jesus has risen, they depart from that place and walk, but they walk with fear and tell no one. Perhaps they don't open their mouths in Jerusalem because the disciples are not yet present and the people of Jerusalem were involved in His crucifixion. Either way, the gospel is complete. Jesus lived, he died, and he resurrected.

Promise: Proclaim the message of Jesus. He has lived, died, and risen. He is my Savior and Lord.

Prayer: Thank you God for this wonderful message that you have given in the words of Mark. Thank you for the way he spoke and showing me the truth of Jesus and His great love for me and then how I am to share that love toward You and toward others. Grant me the power to do this. Change my ways Lord so that I see you as You really are. You are Holy and true and I want to testify of You throughout my life. I pray for courage. Even as I spoke of going to church with that sales rep yesterday from the bus company I don't want to back down but communicate my life and perhaps it can encourage others. O God be praised.