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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_16:1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'" 8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mar_16:1 "When the Sabbath was over" The ancient Israelites started their days at twilight (i.e., evenings), following Gen_1:5; Gen_1:8; Gen_1:13; Gen_1:19; Gen_1:23; Gen_1:31. However, the Romans (and Greeks) had adopted a Babylonian method of dividing the day and night into twelve divisions. These divisions were not of equal length because of seasonal changes in the length of light/dark periods. Mark 15 uses several of these time markers (i.e., third hour, Mar_15:25; sixth hour, Mar_15:33; ninth hour, Mar_15:34).
This phrase appears to refer to the ancient Israelite method and would, therefore, be 6 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday for the Sabbath.
▣ "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome" See Special Topic following.
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▣ "brought spices. . .anoint Him" Although these women had seen Joseph and Nicodemus prepare and place the body of Jesus in a tomb, apparently because of the time limitations (i.e., between 3 - 6 p.m.) something of the normal Jewish burial procedures may have been left out (possibly the aromatic candles or some particular type of spices), and these women were going to properly finish the traditional procedures.
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Mar_16:2 "Very early on the first day of the week. . .when the sun had risen" All the Gospels record a slightly different time.
1. Mat_28:1 has "at dawn"
2. Luk_24:1 has "at early dawn"
3. Joh_20:1 "while it was still dark"
Apparently these women left their home while it was still dark, but by the time they arrived (possibly they had to buy the spices) at the tomb it was already light.
Mar_16:3 "They were saying to one another" This is an Imperfect tense. They kept worrying about and asking each other over and over again as they walked to the tomb.
▣ "'Who will roll away the stone'" They were already well on their way with the spices before they thought of the large stone which sealed the tomb. Mark records nothing of the guard and the seal of Mat_27:62-66.
This stone was round and shaped to fit into a sloping groove dug just in front of the rock vault's opening. It was relatively easy to roll into the trench, but very difficult to remove.
Mar_16:4 "Looking up" Apparently they were very downcast, looking at the ground in mourning.
▣ "the stone had been rolled away" From Mat_28:2 it seems that the stone was knocked out of its groove by an earthquake (caused by an angel, cf. Luk_24:4; Joh_20:12) and it was lying on its side.
▣ "although it was extremely large" Grave robbing was a common occurrence because of the value of the spices and other burial objects. The location and type of the vault as well as the size of the stone would show it was a rich man's tomb (cf. Isa_53:9).
Mar_16:5 "Entering the tomb" Joh_20:11 has Mary outside the tomb looking in, but Luk_24:3 confirms that, at least at some point, the women went in.
▣ "they saw a young man sitting at the right" Normally it is Matthew that has two—two Gerasene demoniacs, two blind men in Jericho, etc.—but here it is Luke and John that have two angels while Mark and Matthew only have one.
In the Bible angels are usually depicted as males, except in Zec_5:9-10.
▣ "wearing a white robe" A much fuller account of his clothing is found in Mat_28:3 (cf. Luk_24:4 has "in dazzling apparel").
Mar_16:6 "Do not be amazed" This is a Present imperative with the negative particle, which usually means to stop an act already in process. Humans are always awed and frightened at the physical manifestations of the spiritual realm.
▣ "'Jesus the Nazarene'" See fuller note at Mar_14:67.
▣ "who has been crucified" This is a perfect passive participle (cf. Mat_28:5). This has the definite article and may be a title, "the Crucified One" (cf. 1Co_1:23; 1Co_2:2; Gal_3:1). When we see Jesus He will still have the marks of the crucifixion, which have become a badge of honor and glory (cf. 1Co_15:4 and Rev_5:12). Jesus is the only Person of the Trinity with a physical body.
▣ "He has risen" The resurrection is the central pillar of the Christian faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 15). This shows God's approval of Jesus' life and sacrifice. This is a recurrent theme of Peter (cf. Act_2:24-28; Act_2:32; Act_3:15; Act_3:26; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; 1Pe_1:13; 1Pe_3:18; 1Pe_3:21, and Paul, Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_13:37; Act_17:31; Rom_4:24; Rom_8:11; Rom_10:9; 2Co_4:14). This is confirmation of the Father's acceptance of the Son's substitutionary death (cf. 1 Corinthians 15). Theologically all three persons of the Trinity were active in Christ's resurrection: the Father (Act_2:24; Act_3:15; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_17:31); the Spirit (Rom_8:11); and the Son (Joh_2:19-22; Joh_10:17-18). See hyperlink at Mar_8:31.
▣ "behold here is the place where they laid Him" This refers to one of several rock ledges in Joseph's tomb. Joh_20:6-7 describes this burial place and how the linen burial cloths were lying.
Mar_16:7 "But go, tell His disciples and Peter" Why is Peter singled out? How thoughtful and tender our Lord (through the angel), that He would single out the backslidden and hurting Peter! Peter remembers!
▣ "He is going ahead of you to Galilee" Jesus had prearranged a meeting with His disciples in Galilee after His resurrection. The disciples did not clearly understand the theological implications of this event (cf. Mar_14:28; Matt. 28:32; 28:7,10; John 21; 1Co_15:6). I think this was the time and place of the Great Commission.
Mar_16:8 "for trembling and astonishment had gripped them" Mat_28:8 adds with "great joy."
▣ "they said nothing to anyone" Was this temporary or did they not obey the angel's message of Mar_16:7? Joh_20:1-10 gives an account of Mary of Magdala reporting to the disciples about the grave being empty, but no angel's message!
▣ "for they were afraid" This Gospel ends so abruptly and on such a negative note that apparently ancient scribes tried to add some type of summary ending to it.
Mar_16:9-20 I am committed to inspired Apostolic writings as the true word of God, the only source for faith and practice. However, these verses are not inspired, possibly even heretical (drinking poison, handling snakes). I refuse to comment on them! For a full discussion of the textual problem see Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary On the Greek New Testament, pp. 122-126.
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