Open Ended

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Scripture

Mark 16:1   When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 

Observation

Mark’s gospel is coming to a rather abrupt end. So much so that later scribes tried to add some endings which most of us find in our translations of the word. The unusual part of the whole story is that it hinges on the eye-witness accounts of the women who remained at the cross, followed Joseph to the tomb so they knew where Jesus’ body had been laid, and who faithfully arrive on that first resurrection morning to bring spices to anoint and care for the body. They are told to go tell the disciples and Peter what has happened. The last sentence doesn’t meant that these women didn’t fulfill their mission but that, most likely, they were terrified with the news and ran without distraction, not telling anyone else but Peter and the disciples, that Jesus was no longer in the grave. 

Application

We hate leaving this gospel with the ending, “they were afraid,” and yet, that is the honest and open-ended conclusion of this gospel which has been a revelation of the identity of Jesus, as the Son of God. Throughout the text we have seen the center around Jesus shift from those who believed themselves to be religious, to the marginalized. We end with the women, transformed from their former lives into faithful followers of Jesus Christ, at the very center. Yes, they are terrified, but they fulfilled their mission and the story remains open ended for this is so upside-down that the author doesn’t even foreshadow what is to come. Rather, it becomes an invitation to draw near to the risen Lord, and become a participant in the gospel story. 

Prayer

Lord, we rejoice today in the celebration of resurrection. We hearts of gratitude we live into the new life that you have provided. Now, in the season of COVID-19 we live with a rather open-ended scenario. Thank you for the faithful witnesses of the past who showed us what it was like to write a new chapter of history. May you help us to be your people in just such a season. Amen.

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