Mark 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
The version of the Bible I am reading contains the following note before today’s section of verses: [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.] I find this note incredibly interesting. Why were verses 9-20 included in later versions but not in the original? Who first added these verses? What was their objective in doing so?
Mark 16:10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.
I’m not sure I find the content of the verses surprising at all. Those who thought Jesus was the Messiah had a very specific idea of how He would save them and from what He would save them. They are mourning the loss of that ideal. Many of them also fully grasp that He was God incarnate because of the anomalous happenings at His death. They were mourning the loss of a Savior they didn’t even know that they needed. I don’t think it’s too surprising that folks didn’t believe yet that He had risen.
Mark 16:11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
Precious Savior, Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Thank You for having a plan that was bigger, greater, than anything we could hope or imagine. Thank You for going ahead of us as you promised, even as we are struggling with doubt and grief. Help us to cling to Your promises. Always. Amen.
Mark 16:12-13 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Have a blessed day.