Step 5

JESUS IS RISEN: the “Good News”

Mark 16:1-20

Key Verses 15-16

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Today’s passage tells us that Jesus rose from the dead. This is the good news for salvation for all who believe. 

Read verses 1-3. Who went to Jesus' tomb? Why? Did they think Jesus was dead or alive?  

** Some women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (1). (Mark 15:40)

** To anoint his body.

** Dead. They did not believe in his resurrection.

Read verses 4-6. What did they see at the tomb site? Why were they alarmed? What did the young man tell them about Jesus? (6) What does it mean that he is "risen"?

** The stone was rolled away.

** They also saw a man dressed in white inside the tomb, but no Jesus.

** verse 6.

** He rose from the dead and is alive just like you and me. The man’s mention of the body not being there emphasizes this. He is helping them to believe.

Read verses 7-8. Compare what he tells them in verse 7 with what Jesus says in Mark 14:27-28. What then is significant about the words, "just as he told you," in verse 7? Yet what did the women do? 

** Yes, it is as Jesus told them.

** The angel is helping them to remember Jesus’ words and believe based on them.

** They were afraid, fled the tomb, and didn’t say anything. 

Read verses 9-14. Describe Jesus’ first two appearances? What did those who saw him do after seeing him? Yet what was the response? When Jesus later appeared to the Eleven, what did he rebuke them for? What does this tell us about Jesus? 

** First, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb. Second, Jesus appeared to two disciples while on country road.

** Both groups went back and told the other disciples.

** They did not believe either of the two groups. They were still mourning and weeping. 

** “Lack of faith” and “stubborn refusal to believe”, the first regarding their lack of faith in his words regarding resurrection (Mark 14:27-28), and not believing those who had seen him.

** He wants us to believe in him and those who experience his presence/power based on his word.

Read verses 15-16.  What command did Jesus give to his disciples? What does it mean to preach? To whom? What is the good news? What must anyone do to be saved? 

** Verses 15-16.

** telling / teaching plus practicing / obeying.

** “all creation” 

** verse 16. This news is “good” because through his death and resurrection we have new life and hope for eternal life in the kingdom of God to come.

** Believe and be baptized (Mark 1 = repentance and faith). 

Q: saved from what? A: condemnation (16), which comes from sin.

What signs did Jesus give in verses 17-18? Why did he give them?

** verses 17-18.

** “to accompany” those who believe. To help them carry out the Lord’s command. 

Read verses 19-20.  Where did Jesus go?  Yet in what respects was he with his disciples when they preached the good news?

** Verse 19. 

** “worked with them” and “confirmed his word by the signs…”