[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]1
9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
Introduction to the So-Called Longer Ending
In the NT, there are not many text-critical issues of noteworthy and far-reaching importance. Mark 16:9–20 is one of them. The large majority of text-critical issues concerning the NT are minor differences between the approximate 5,600 extant manuscripts containing all or parts of the NT.
Regardless of whether the text of Mark 16:9–20 is considered original to the Gospel of Mark on the basis of manuscript evidence, there is no doubt that most of the content of what is narrated in this section is found elsewhere in various uncontested sections of the NT.
Section Overview
The so-called longer ending of Mark ([16:9–20])858 conveys stories of two post-resurrection appearances of Jesus ([16:9–13]), followed by a narrative of Jesus’ appearance to his disciples in which he commissions them to proclaim the good news ([16:14–18]). Within this Markan “great commission” he also speaks of faith, miracles, and evangelism. The pericope closes with the description of the ascension of Jesus ([16:19–20]).
Prominent are Jesus’ challenges to persistent unbelief: he chides his disciples for not trusting the initial, credible resurrection witnesses. Especially in verses [14–18] he challenges his disciples concerning their hard-heartedness, which hinders them from believing the resurrection witness of Mary Magdalene ([v. 11]) and the two disciples ([v. 13]). Faith is present when a person trusts the resurrection witness (cf. John 20:29) that follows on the heels of the witness to the atoning, substitutionary death of Jesus.
Despite this exhortation, Jesus commissions his disciples to serve as worldwide witnesses to his resurrection from death (Mark [16:15–18]; cf. 7:27; 13:10). The inner core of gospel witness and proclamation is the resurrection of Jesus from atoning, substitutionary death (10:45; [16:15]).
Section Outline
Response
As is also stated in the remainder of the NT, the disciples of Christ are enabled and empowered to continue that which Christ sets in motion, namely, the mission the triune God is still pursuing with his people. Above all, the disciples serve as fearless and authentic witnesses (cf. John 17:20). Faith in Jesus arises from trust in the apostolically given testimony that the crucified and atoning Christ (Mark 10:45) has indeed been raised from death. God validates especially such apostolic testimony with “signs.” The sole ground for faith in Jesus is the testimony of the atoning death and divine resurrection and vindication of Jesus. Obedient faith in this redeeming Jesus saves.