I'm told that there are some textual questions related to the ending of the gospel of Mark. Our modern translations of Scripture point out that Mark 16:9-20 is not included in the most reliable early manuscripts. If that's true, then the story of Mark's gospel actually ends with Mark 16:8.
And Mark 16:8 is a remarkable ending: Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
We read that rather revealing description just after these women have discovered the empty tomb and just after they have had a fairly disturbing conversation with "a young man dressed in a white robe" (a typical way of describing an angel).
Clearly, whatever we do with the textual questions related to the ending of this gospel, Mark 16:8 is not the end of the story. Eventually, there will be joy and celebration and proclamation. We can read all about that in other places.
But how interesting to see the interim scene of Mark 16:8 before we learn about what comes next.
Having seen the empty tomb, the women tremble. They are bewildered. They flee (or, we might say, run for their lives). They are afraid. And they don't say anything to anyone.
What strikes me most about these words is how terribly honest they are.
It dawns on me that, even as I live with Jesus, so much of my life can be described that same way. So much of the time, this is exactly where I live.
Trembling. Bewildered. Running away from this or that. Utterly afraid. Silent.
Thankfully, those are not permanent conditions. Thankfully, those are not the only things I know. Honestly, though, they are central parts of my story.
I'm happy that there's more to the gospel than what we encounter in Mark 16:8. All the same, I'm sincerely glad that this honest description of the women is here. Even in the presence of the empty tomb, they act the way I often act.
And, evidently, God is able to take them where they are . . . and he is able to move them to something else.
Eventually, these women will tell the story. Eventually, they will become bold in witness. Eventually, they will rise above their trembling and bewilderment. Eventually, they will move forward despite their fear.
And that's really good news.
That's really good news - because if that can happen to them, perhaps it can happen to me too.
What strikes me most about these words is how terribly honest they are.
It dawns on me that, even as I live with Jesus, so much of my life can be described that same way. So much of the time, this is exactly where I live.
Trembling. Bewildered. Running away from this or that. Utterly afraid. Silent.
Thankfully, those are not permanent conditions. Thankfully, those are not the only things I know. Honestly, though, they are central parts of my story.
I'm happy that there's more to the gospel than what we encounter in Mark 16:8. All the same, I'm sincerely glad that this honest description of the women is here. Even in the presence of the empty tomb, they act the way I often act.
And, evidently, God is able to take them where they are . . . and he is able to move them to something else.
Eventually, these women will tell the story. Eventually, they will become bold in witness. Eventually, they will rise above their trembling and bewilderment. Eventually, they will move forward despite their fear.
And that's really good news.
That's really good news - because if that can happen to them, perhaps it can happen to me too.