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Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 348

Acts 5:18 "And laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison." Acts 5:18"

Day 348 – Mark 16

“And laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.” Acts 5:18

THE CHALLENGE OF A COMPLETE TURNAROUND

The women disciples had gone to the garden tomb to see Jesus. Their intent was to perfume the body of their Teacher, whom they had seen crucified to death. The palpable sense of sorrow they had felt in their heartsâ?¦ was that completely gone now? What was in their hearts after they had heard the words of the angel sent from God? The angel had challenged them to believe that Jesus had truly risen from the dead! They had come to see the body of Jesus. Instead they saw an empty tomb. But their trip to the garden tomb was not in vain. The angel gave a message of tremendous hope and joy. Jesus had risen from the dead. Death could not hold Him. He had conquered death by rising from the dead.

A MIXED SET OF EMOTIONS

It seemed altogether too much, too sudden, too stupendous for the women folk to take it all in at that point of time! Mark recorded how the women folk felt as they left the tomb.

“So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb,
for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing
to anyone, for they were afraid.”
MARK 16:8

How do we understand this text? How do we equate this text with other Resurrection passages in the other Gospels, which appear to be lots more positive? Let us consider the following thoughts:-

1. A record of the initial reaction of the womenfolk

a) They trembled
This is surely easily understandable.
b) And were amazed
This feeling of amazement is also easily understandable.
c) They were afraid
This feeling is also closely related.

2. A record of the internal struggles felt by the womenfolk

a) They went out quickly and fled the tomb
This is perfectly understandable. There was nothing in the tomb to hold them there. But of course, they fled the tomb! That would be a most natural response.
b) They said nothing to anyone
The women would first have to grapple with what they had just experienced! They would need to settle within their hearts whether they could believe all that they had heard and seen before sharing with others.