Mark 16

Mark 16 … In the first century, a Jewish tomb was like a hollowed-out cave, with one room or more, where the body was laid (not buried) in a shallow recess, wrapped tightly in linen, and anointed with perfumes and spices to prevent odor. There the body remained until only bones remained (several years) at which time the bones would be placed in a “bone box” and the tomb would be recycled for use by another family member, perhaps a generation later. That’s why these women were coming to anoint the body of Jesus. Mark reports the resurrection factually and briefly. The appearance to Mary Magdalene is in verse 9; the walk on the road to Emmaus is in verse 12. Mark’s equivalent of the Great Commission is in verse 15. Apparently our Lord also imparted supernatural powers to the disciples at this time, which accounts for miracles we later observe in the book of Acts. Our Lord’s Ascension is reported in one verse by Mark (v.19) and then the shortest Gospel concludes, having furnished more detail, names, places and facts than any of the other Gospels.