Mark Chapter 16

Mark Chapter 16

After the Sabbath had passed, the Mary’s brought some sweet spices to anoint poor JC’s body. They came to the sepulcher really really early on Monday morning just as the sun was rising. But, a problem immediately presented itself. Which of them was going to roll the stone away from the door of the sepulchre. But, amazingly enough as they approached the tomb they found that the large boulder had been moved.

When they entered they found a young man in white garments sitting on the right side and he freakin’ scared the crap out of them. Uh, no doubt. What is some dude doing hanging out in JC’s burial chamber?

Well, he tries to put them at ease saying that they shouldn’t be scared. He knows that they’re looking for Jesus who was crucified, but he’s already risen and is no longer here. With this he invites them to look at the place where he was laid.

The young man continues that they should go on their way and tell Peter and the gang (or rather, remind them) that JC will see them in Galilee as promised. (You, my lovely reader will recall that Jesus did in fact make such a promise to them).

Well, it doesn’t take much to get these ladies high tailing it out of there. Off they go, but they didn’t dare say a word to anyone out of terror. Who can blame them for that. But Jesus, who as we have just been told had risen even a earlier that day, decided to put in a word with his good friend Mary Magdalene (Mark’s gospel tells us that JC had done her some good by casting devils out of her. I think the typical understanding is that she was a whore… but whatever.)

Mags went and told the disciples that she had seen their good buddy that very morning while the disciples were busy mourning and wailing. When they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

But, a while after that our old buddy Jesus appeared in another form to two of his disciples when they went for a little walk in the country. But, they had the same trouble as Miss Magadalene. No one believed them despite JC’s very explicit prophesies. Ye of little faith indeed, my brothers, indeed.

Finally at eleven when they were sitting to eat JC appears again and this them screams at them for their lack of faith. Can’t really blame the guy, these are supposed to be his most faithful followers.

Jesus says, anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe will be damned. (JC’s typical compassion). Then he tells them that certains signs are going to follow his believers. They will be able to cast out devils in his name, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, if they happen to drink something deadly, it won’t hurt them, when these believers lay their hands on the sick, the sick will be healed.

Well, after JC let them know what was in store for true believers (at this point in history there seems to be none… although a case could maybe be made for Mary Magdalene), he ascends into heaven where he takes his time honored position to the right of his daddy, and presumably puts a hand on the seat to his immediate right to save it for old Pete. Believer or not, JC loves that guy.

Well, all the disciples are excited because they think they must be true believers (despite their constant doubting and letting Jesus down) and off they go into the world where they preached everywhere. The Lord, apparently was working with them. And confirming the word with signs… I guess the ones mentioned.

Amen, says Mark.

Well, Hallelujah, says Beth. Because Beth is so glad to have finished her translation of the Gospel of Mark.

She’ll see you kids again when she begins to translate the magical and mysterious Gospel of John. Yipes. But you’ll have to give her a break, she needs a few days to go camping and recover from all the magical and disturbing things that have happened in Mark’s book.