Mark 16:1-20 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

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Bible Comments

How completely all His disciples had missed the meaning of His teaching concerning His own resurrection may be gathered from this story. The women were bringing spices to embalm His body. In spite of their failure, He provided for their reception when they came to the tomb. They found a heavenly visitor.

Mark gives us a very condensed account of the Lord's sojourn on earth after His resurrection. There is a very beautiful revelation of His grace and love in appearing first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

There is a calm dignity about Mark's account of the ascension, which is a very appropriate ending to this Gospel of the Servant. He "sat down at the right hand of God." The Servant of all has taken the place of Chief of all. And yet His triumph is not cessation of activity, for as they go forth to preach the Word everywhere, in obedience to His parting instruction, He works with them, and gives the signs which confirm the truth of their message. Thus the last manifestation of the grace which has been so conspicuous is that He sends us forth to carry on His work; and He is with us. Luke 1:1-80

Luke brings us face to face with the Son of Man and the Saviour of the world. The apostle first gives an account of how he did his work. He then tells of Gabriel's visit to Zacharias announcing the birth of the Herald of the Lord, following it immediately with the august account of the coming of this same Gabriel to Mary, and the great annunciation. Her reception of that announcement was in faith and submission to the divine will. Thus we see her co-operating in the purpose of God.

Luke records the first two songs of the new dispensation, the first being a salutation by Elisabeth of Mary as the mother of the Lord, and the second the great Magnificat of Mary herself.

The faith of Zacharias, which had trembled in the presence of the divine promise, was restored when he wrote on the slate the name of the babe. This was a return from the point of unbelief, and the exercise of will in the appointed way.

This chapter ends with the third song of the new era, and it takes the form of a prophetic benediction from the lips of a priest of the chosen people. It was a song of salvation, and has within it truth -deeper than most likely the singer then understood.

Related Commentaries of Mark 16:1

Mark 16:1-20

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat,a and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them,Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.