The Gospel of MarkSample

When we put ourselves back in the shoes of the women in Mark 16, it is easy to understand why they were so worried when they found the empty tomb. Did someone come and take the body? Would they be believed if they said what they had seen since women’s testimony was not seen as valid? The response the disciples had to Mary Magdalene in verse 11 shows they probably wouldn’t have believed them anyway!

Sometimes when presented with worrying facts about our faith we can be tempted to run away in fear like the women do in verse 8. Erin Vroom’s words are encouraging:

“The early church had a practice of reading the gospels out loud, together. Imagine yourself hearing this abrupt conclusion decades later in an ever-expanding full room of Jesus followers. Just by standing in that room, you would know the gospel had overcome the women’s failure! Despite your doubts, maybe you need to step forward in obedience to the gospel, just like these women must have.”