Resurrection III

This piece focuses on The Gospel of Mark, the first of the Gospels historically and the one upon which the other three, to varying degrees, are based.

Starting in Ch.16. Mark says that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (Jesus' brother James? ie. his mother?), and Salome go to anoint the body. Now remember Paul said that Jesus appeared first to Peter.

Mark has used a literary device here. Earlier in the Gospel Jesus had taken three close male disciples--Peter, James, and John--away and was transfigured on the mountain. The disciples (both male and female, there's gender equality for you) are the models of how not be for Mark. They are stupid, weak, ignorant characters. Again both sexes.

So these three women then think to themselves along the way, "Who will roll the stone away for us?" probably something they should have thought of prior to leaving (not very swift) but anyway, they get there and the rock is already rolled away and a young man dressed in white robe tells them (v.6-7)

"He [Jesus] has been raised; he is not here....But go tell his disciples and Peter that he is gong ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him just as he told you." Unfortunately v8 states "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." (16:8).

Now in your Bible you will find both what is called a shorter ending and a longer ending following. The shorter one simply states the did as they were commanded and told Peter and the disciples. The longer version includes, as I will show editing from the later stories created by Matthew and Luke.

In other words, the women running away scared and telling no one is the original ending of the Gospel. There is a rumor of resurrection by the young man in white (who may represent a newly baptized catechumen) and that resurrection/appearance is in the Galilee. Peter is mentioned by name which may link back up with Paul's statement about Peter being the first to see. Maybe.

So Mark's Gospel has an empty tomb, a rumor, and no actual appearance, and the women acting as cowards. The later versions were put in because it didn't look good I suppose to not have the disciples respond as God commanded.

So why would Mark have the women disobey out of fear? Mark was written during the persecution and terror of the Jewish War against the Romans 67-71 CE. The Romans destroyed the Temple and sacked Jerusalem. The Wailing/Western wall where orthodox Jews pray at today in Jerusalem is the only remnant of that very temple.

Mark's community suffered persecution. Not only is there is Resurrection appearance of Jesus there is also no triumphant Ascension of Jesus into heaven in Mark either. Because for Mark the discipleship of Jesus is marked from now until the end of time by suffering and the cross. Therefore fear is the great enemy of the Way of the Cross and Suffering. The disciples are who not to be.

All we will ever hear in this world is a rumor of Resurrection. It is an "amazing" claim that calls for faith or fear & running away. Faith means living the life of death and pain that is the Christian way. To me that is a profound meditation, which is why I tend to connect more with Mark's Jesus and theology than some of the other gospels--on this point anyway.

So notice in Paul, the first, there are appearances (Jesus being revealed to) a number of people. Paul's main emphasis in that is declaring apostolic authority not what the appearance was like. Now Mark who has only a rumor of resurrection, an empty tomb, and disciples who run away scared.

Not exactly a lot to go on so far. Matthew and Luke, who I'll cover next (keeping in chronological order) I think were embarrassed by some of Mark and sought to fill in some of the details.