The Resurrection
Though the Lord has said that He will rise on the third day, the women come with spices to anoint Him. They buy them as soon as the Sabbath is over. Although they want to do something that didn’t have to happen, the women show a mind that suits people who love the Lord. He is everything to them. But Mary of Bethany is not there. She anointed Him and did so before His burial [Mark 14:8]. She took in all His words [Luke 10:39] and believed that He would rise. He had also spoken about this [Mark 8:31]; [Mark 9:31]; [Mark 10:34].
It is very early on the first day of the week. That indicates the new beginning. The day of the resurrection is Sunday. As the women reach the place where death reigns, the sun rises. Death is conquered, the sun appears. Fear can disappear, a new period begins. The women do not yet see anything of the new that has come with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They face a great difficulty. They cannot roll away the stone that closes the tomb. How are they to anoint His body now? They can’t think about the resurrection for a moment.
When they get to the tomb, they see that the great stone has been rolled away. Their problem isn’t there. The stone has not been rolled away to let the Lord out, but to let them in. They go into the tomb and see a young man sitting there. The young man is an angel. He possesses everlasting youth because he does not belong to earth, but to heaven. His appearance impresses.
Mark notices that he is sitting at the right side and that he is clothed in a white robe. The whole appearance fits the great event of Christ’s resurrection. Death has been conquered, something new has arisen. The resurrection laid the foundation of a new creation. “Young man” speaks of the everlasting freshness and power of the new. That he is “on the right” speaks of the eternal righteousness of the new. It is Christ’s place with God [Verse 19]. That he is clothed in a white robe speaks of the everlasting result of the new: everyone who participates in it is clean and pure before God [Rev 7:9]. The young man from Mark 14 [Mark 14:51] contrasts with this young man. That young man wanted to follow in his own power, the power of the flesh. Then there can only be failure.
The angel reassures the women. He knows that they are looking for Him Who they know as the despised Jesus from the despised Nazareth. With these words he expresses his appreciation for them. It is the appreciation of heaven because they have committed themselves to that Person. He also reassures them about their beloved Lord. The angel can tell them that He is risen. He is no longer in the tomb. They can convince themselves. They just have to look at the place where they laid Him. That place is empty.
The angel sends them away from the tomb with a message from the Lord for His disciples. He tells them to tell the disciples where to find Him. He also tells them to tell Peter specifically. This will give him the assurance that the Lord loves him and wants him to be there as well.
The angel does nothing but remind them of something the Lord said earlier about His resurrection and the place where they can see Him [Mark 14:28]. The Lord always comes first. If we follow Him, we will see Him. What He said then was the reason for Peter’s statement that he would never deny Him [Mark 14:28-29]. The message of the women will be a great encouragement to Peter.
In all their love for the Lord, they cannot cope with the encounter with heaven. They are not ready to hear heavenly things. It frightens and astonishes them and they flee. They dare not talk to anyone about it. Later on they will learn the richness of it. The Lord knows their sincerity and will answer their love.
It is very early on the first day of the week. That indicates the new beginning. The day of the resurrection is Sunday. As the women reach the place where death reigns, the sun rises. Death is conquered, the sun appears. Fear can disappear, a new period begins. The women do not yet see anything of the new that has come with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They face a great difficulty. They cannot roll away the stone that closes the tomb. How are they to anoint His body now? They can’t think about the resurrection for a moment.
When they get to the tomb, they see that the great stone has been rolled away. Their problem isn’t there. The stone has not been rolled away to let the Lord out, but to let them in. They go into the tomb and see a young man sitting there. The young man is an angel. He possesses everlasting youth because he does not belong to earth, but to heaven. His appearance impresses.
Mark notices that he is sitting at the right side and that he is clothed in a white robe. The whole appearance fits the great event of Christ’s resurrection. Death has been conquered, something new has arisen. The resurrection laid the foundation of a new creation. “Young man” speaks of the everlasting freshness and power of the new. That he is “on the right” speaks of the eternal righteousness of the new. It is Christ’s place with God [Verse 19]. That he is clothed in a white robe speaks of the everlasting result of the new: everyone who participates in it is clean and pure before God [Rev 7:9]. The young man from Mark 14 [Mark 14:51] contrasts with this young man. That young man wanted to follow in his own power, the power of the flesh. Then there can only be failure.
The angel reassures the women. He knows that they are looking for Him Who they know as the despised Jesus from the despised Nazareth. With these words he expresses his appreciation for them. It is the appreciation of heaven because they have committed themselves to that Person. He also reassures them about their beloved Lord. The angel can tell them that He is risen. He is no longer in the tomb. They can convince themselves. They just have to look at the place where they laid Him. That place is empty.
The angel sends them away from the tomb with a message from the Lord for His disciples. He tells them to tell the disciples where to find Him. He also tells them to tell Peter specifically. This will give him the assurance that the Lord loves him and wants him to be there as well.
The angel does nothing but remind them of something the Lord said earlier about His resurrection and the place where they can see Him [Mark 14:28]. The Lord always comes first. If we follow Him, we will see Him. What He said then was the reason for Peter’s statement that he would never deny Him [Mark 14:28-29]. The message of the women will be a great encouragement to Peter.
In all their love for the Lord, they cannot cope with the encounter with heaven. They are not ready to hear heavenly things. It frightens and astonishes them and they flee. They dare not talk to anyone about it. Later on they will learn the richness of it. The Lord knows their sincerity and will answer their love.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any [man]; for they were afraid.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-21 Source: Title: Mark Author: Ger de Koning |
Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavors are not successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, not dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here see the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named, Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and a true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears often hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any [man]; for they were afraid.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
And very early (in the morning), the first day of the week, they come unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun."
 | Author: Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite AD: 550 |
The women were first to honor the risen Christ, the apostles first to suffer for him. The women were ready with spices; the apostles prepared for scourges. The women entered the tomb; the apostles would soon enter the dungeon. The women hastened to express their eulogy; the apostles embraced chains for his sake. The women poured oils; the apostles poured out their blood.
 | Author: Peter Chrysologus Rank: Bishop AD: 450 |
In the time of the old covenant, the sabbath was highly revered. Now under the gospel the sabbath has been recast, now viewed as the Lord’s resurrection day. The sabbath formerly had pertained to the pedagogy and rudiments of the law. When the great master himself came and fulfilled them all for us, all that had prefigured his coming was transformed. The old sabbath was like a candle lit in the night before the rising and appearing of the sun. .
 | Author: Athanasius the Apostolic Rank: Pope AD: 373 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
