THE WOMEN WHO HEARD THE GOOD NEWS FIRST

Passage: Mark 16:1-11

Key verse: 6

NIV

Jesus Has Risen(A)

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices(B) so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”(C)

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe(D) sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,(E) who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him,(F) just as he told you.’”(G)

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.[a]

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,(H) out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.(I)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 16:8 Some manuscripts have the following ending between verses 8 and 9, and one manuscript has it after verse 8 (omitting verses 9-20): Then they quickly reported all these instructions to those around Peter. After this, Jesus himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Resurrection

16 (A)(B)When the Sabbath was past, (C)Mary Magdalene, (D)Mary the mother of James, and (E)Salome (F)bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away (G)the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—(H)it was very large. 5 And (I)entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, (J)dressed in (K)a white robe, and (L)they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, (M)“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that (N)he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, (O)just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.][a]

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, (P)he appeared first to (Q)Mary Magdalene, (R)from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 (S)She went and told those who had been with him, (T)as they (U)mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they (V)would not believe it.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 16:9 Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9–20 immediately after verse 8. At least one manuscript inserts additional material after verse 14; some manuscripts include after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. These manuscripts then continue with verses 9–20
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. He has risen (1-8)

The women who loved Jesus and who had served him during his lifetime came at sunrise to render one last act of love and service. Their hearts were heavy with sorrow, so their minds clung to small problems. They worried about who would roll the stone away. When they arrived, the stone was already rolled away and the good news of the gospel was waiting for them. The good news, 'He has risen,' was announced with a command: 'Go, tell his disciples and Peter...' But the women were too terrified to do anything.

2. Mary Magdalene (9-11)

When the others fled, Mary lingered, weeping. She could not forget God's grace, for Jesus had set her free from the power of seven demons. She waited, weeping, and met Jesus; then she joyfully went and told the others that Jesus was alive.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember your great grace, meet you afresh this morning, and tell the gospel news to someone else.

One Word: Jesus rose to turn our sorrow into joy