We continue in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022. Today’s reflections from Mark chapter 16 address the resurrection of Jesus and the reliability of the New Testament.
- Mark chapter 16 has 3 main movements: first the shorter ending of Mark has section (1) the women being the first witnesses of the resurrection (16:1-8); then the “longer ending of Mark” has two main sections (2) Jesus appears to His followers (16:9-18); and (3) Jesus’ ascension (16:19-20).
- Today’s episode will focus on the resurrection and briefly on the ending of Mark and the reliability of the New Testament.
Part 1: He Is Risen
- Mark records that when the Sabbath had past, three women journeyed to the tomb of Jesus. How did they know where to go? Well, two of these women were there and saw where he was laid (Mark 15:47). As they were on their way, they were asking each other who would roll away the large stone which had sealed the entrance to the tomb (15:46; 16:3).
- To their shock, when they reached the tomb the stone was rolled away! Mark was careful to note “it was very large” – almost as though he was saying there was NO way these women could have moved this stone!
- And they hear “a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe” say to them “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee” (Mark 16:6-7)
- Mark here records that these women were the first witnesses of the empty tomb — certainly something that, for a first century account, would have been embarrassing. The culture of the time did not value the eye witness account of women to the same level as men — and yet, this is how Mark records it.
- And that brings be me to a large issue — one that, for me, has been significant to my Christian walk. And that is…
Part 2: Resurrection & The Reliability of the New Testament
- When it comes to such a cornerstone issue as the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we need to honestly consider whether we trust the New Testament or not.
- Particularly for me, my journey started with assessing the arguments for and against the Resurrection. While I cannot address everything in this short video, I would like to share what I found to be perhaps the most succinct and accessible argument. It is called “The Minimal Facts Approach” and is presented in “The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus” by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona.[1] I have included a link for this and other books[2, 3] on the resurrection in the description below.
- Habermas and Licona, in the Minimal Facts Approach, only consider data that meets two criteria: (1) the data are strongly evidenced and (2) the data are granted by virtually all scholars on the subject, even the skeptical ones.
- Using this criteria there are four minimal facts, plus one fact that enjoys acceptance by an impressive majority of scholars, though not nearly every scholar. So what are these bedrock facts?
- Fact 1: Jesus died by crucifixion
- This is attested by 5 ancient non-Christian sources
- Fact 2: Jesus’ disciples believed that he rose and appeared to them
- They claimed it — we see that clearly in both oral and written tradition
- They believed it — 7 ancient sources attest to their willingness to suffer and die for their claim!
- Fact 3: The church persecutor Paul was suddenly changed
- We consider his conversion & subsequent suffering & martyrdom for his belief
- Fact 4: The skeptic James, brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed
- Same as with Paul, we consider his conversion & subsequent martyrdom
- Fact 5: The tomb was empty
- How can we claim this? Jesus was crucified and his post-mortem appearances all occurred in Jerusalem. If the tomb was occupied, the matter could be settled with producing the body.
- Further, Jesus’ enemies produced the story that the disciples stole the body — and thus further confirm that the body is missing
- And finally, as we already mentioned, the Gospels point to the testimony of women — which would have been questionable in the first century.
- Fact 1: Jesus died by crucifixion
- The only way to account for these 5 minimal facts is that Jesus physically rose from the dead!
- Using this criteria there are four minimal facts, plus one fact that enjoys acceptance by an impressive majority of scholars, though not nearly every scholar. So what are these bedrock facts?
- Habermas and Licona, in the Minimal Facts Approach, only consider data that meets two criteria: (1) the data are strongly evidenced and (2) the data are granted by virtually all scholars on the subject, even the skeptical ones.
- As I consider these minimal facts, I am not only convinced in the experience of my life that the Risen Christ has transformed my life, but also my faith is bolstered and I rejoice in the reliability of the New Testament – that my confidence in Jesus is not in contradiction to reality.
- What does all this have to do with Mark?
Part 3: The Ending of Mark
- When we look at Mark 16:9-20, many of your translations will include a statement like what is found in the ESV – “Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20.”
- How do I handle this? Does this mean I cannot trust the Bible and what I have in my English Translation?
- Quite the opposite — a responsible translation of the Bible will disclose where there are significantly disputed words, phrases, or sections. However, in each case we can confidently say that no point of doctrine is affected by these variations – or by the absence, or the presence of questionable sections.
- If you want to dig deeper in the topic of why we should trust the Bible, I recommend the two following books for their accessibility and ease of reading: “Why Trust the Bible?” by Greg Gilbert [4] and “Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels” by J Warner Wallace.[5, 6] See the description for links!
- So what can we say about the ending of Mark?
- I appreciate this note from the ESV Study Bible[7] – It says that this section is placed “within brackets, showing their doubts as to whether it was originally part of what Mark wrote, but also recognizing its long history of acceptance by many in the church.” Again, there is nothing in these verses that cannot be see or explained with references to other verses in either the Gospels or the rest of the New Testament.
Conclusion:
- So my friend, as you consider this chapter of Mark and the bedrock facts with which everyone has to wrestle, what comes to your mind and heart? As for me, I have staked my whole life on the reliability of the Resurrection and have known the joy of walking with my Lord! What is your response to this Resurrected Jesus?
- Have you read through Mark chapter 16 yet? If you have been sticking with the reading plan, CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed the first book! What has been your favorite part of this reading challenge so far?
Resurrection Books:
- [1] “The Case for the Resurrection Jesus” by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona (https://amzn.to/3mSaeTW)
- If you are ready for a deep dive on the topic, I recommend the two following books:
- [2] “The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach” by Michael Licona (https://amzn.to/3MWJRaf)
- [3]”The Resurrection of the Son of God” by N.T. Wright (https://amzn.to/3MQEqcB)
Reliability of the Bible
- [4] “Why Trust the Bible?” by Greg Gilbert (https://amzn.to/3OltepQ)
- [5] “Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels” by J Warner Wallace (https://amzn.to/3xzpRo6)
- [6] “The Historical Reliability of the Gospels” by Craig Blomberg (https://amzn.to/39wwfom)
[7] “ESV Study Bible” (https://amzn.to/3azWAlJ)
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