Alternative Endings

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

October 20, 2020

Alternative Endings

Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

Mark 16:12-13

Read: Mark 16: 9-20

Today’s reading contains the two alternative endings to Mark’s Gospel. The oldest, and what are considered the most reliable manuscripts of this Gospel, end and leave the women frightened, trembling and silent. The majority of the manuscripts containing Mark’s Gospel conclude with an addition that provides what seems to be a fitting end of the Gospel. I believe the original ending had somehow been lost, and these alternative endings were added by someone other than Mark.

The extra endings of Mark first appeared in the late second or third century when those assigned the task of copying scripture began inserting the extra material. Even though these endings were not written by Mark, they do provide insight into how the early Christian community sought to live out the Gospel.

Two parts of the endings caught my attention.  First, the appearance of Jesus to the disciples in the countryside is mentioned. Luke tells us they were on the Road to Emmaus.

Secondly, the emphasis on signs and wonders is contrary to Mark’s teaching in this Gospel. I believe Mark would have expected the disciples to go into the world with faith in the resurrection because they shouldn’t need anything else. However, the addition of this material does show how difficult it is to live by faith. The natural inclination of the flesh is to want Jesus to continually reaffirm his presence with miracles.

My Takeaway: The slowness of the disciples to believe in the resurrection is also emphasized in the alternative ending. Still today the greatest difficulty in the lives of the followers of Jesus is in breaking the inertia of hesitancy to get up and go share the Good News:

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.