Emmanuel UCC Narrative Lectionary Bible Study
Rev. George Miller
April 7, 2020
Mark 16:1-8a
Welcome to our #3 Narrative Lectionary Bible Study. Remember-
1) All thoughts are welcome; no one knows it all.
2) What kind of Bible are you using? A translation or an interpretation/paraphrase?
3) When reading the Bible, there is fact and there is truth. It was acceptable back then to use both to share info & ideas.
4) If anything challenges your belief- welcome to the club. Don’t give up- we’re all on our way to being theologians.
So…..Let’s get started.
Take a moment to read Sunday’s text, Mark 16:1-8a.
Take a breath to clear your head.
1st thing you may ask is “What is 8a?”
2nd thing you may ask is “Where is Jesus?”
3rd thing you may ask- “Why about the verses afterwards?’
Great questions. Let’s do some simple history. It is believed that the Mark was writing when Rome was attacking Jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed. Mark is writing for people who are scared and in survivor mode.
Scholars believe the original version of Mark ended with verse 8a in which the women flee the empty tomb, afraid.
This seemingly abrupt ending did not sit well with later generations, so around the 3rd Century, verse 13:b was added to create some closure. Verses 9-19 were added on at another time trying to create a “finished” product.
Why do you think Mark would choose to end the Gospel this way? How do we feel about the Gospel ending with questions as opposed to answers?
No one can answer these for you, but here are some thoughts
1) Maybe the author is using a storytelling technique in which it is the audience who bring closure to the story (Kind of like how GONE WITH THE WIND leaves us imagining what happens next for Scarlett and Rhett).
2) Maybe the disciples are not shown because we are expected to now be the disciples, taking the next chapter of the resurrection out into the world.
3) Maybe, by not showing the Resurrected Christ, the reader is made to seek out where the Resurrected Christ is in their own life.
For those who want to fill their week with extra study, here is something to do- read all the resurrection stories in the order they were most likely written and see what is different, what is the same.
1) I Corinthians 15:3-9, 12-17, written by Paul in the 40’s/50’s
2) Mark 16:1-8; written in the 70’s
3) Matthew 18, perhaps written in the 80s
4) Luke 14, perhaps written in the 90’s
5) John 20-21, perhaps written in the 100’s.
May today’s study be a blessing to you.
Much love, Pastor George
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1 comment:
I read all the suggested passages concerning the Resurrection. First, I was never aware that Paul was the first to record in the Bible about the Resurrection. That put this into an entirely new light for me, as Paul wrote well before anyone else and he wrote about quite a number who knew about it, including some still living at the time.
Second, I find it ironic that not only was more added to Mark, but a sequel was written to GONE WITH THE WIND. SCARLET was written many years later.
I'm not sure where additions to Mark and all the other material in the other three Gospels leaves me. I see the other three Gospels give much more detail of further events, whether they be truth, fact or some of both. I always took much comfort from the appearance of Jesus to Thomas in John. I think I am something of a Thomas. I need things proved to me, just as Thomas did. Incidentally, in college I met a young man from India who was a member of the Thomas Christians.
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