Mark 16.1-20 will tell us about the resurrection of Yeshua and his instructions to his talmidim as he sends them out as “shaliachim” or “apostles”, and his ascension to heaven.
v 1…And when the sabbath was over (the high sabbath of Nisan 15, the first day of Hag Ha Matzah or “unleavened bread”) Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices (on Friday, Nisan 16), that they might come (later) and anoint him.
v 2…And very early on the first day of the week (a festival called Yom Ha Bikkurim or “first fruits”), they came to the tomb when the sun had arisen (this would have been Nisan 18).
v 3…And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb (the three days and nights were over and the guards were gone they thought)?”
v 4…And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away (previously), although it was extremely large (Yeshua had resurrected around the previous sundown at the end of Nisan 17).
v 5…And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed (Matthew describes this person as an angel, and Luke describes two of them).
v 6…And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Yeshua the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has arisen (the trial of Yeshua was the justice of men. But Yehovah “overruled” their earthly verdict with his justice by vindicating Yeshua’s innocence by raising him from the dead); he is not here; behold (see for yourself) the place where they laid him.
v 7…But go, tell his talmidim and Peter (Peter is mentioned by name to comfort him and to encourage him to come; he was still included with the others in spite of his denials).”
v 8…And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (to tell anyone else what had happened for fear that they would be accused of stealing the body, etc).
v 9…Now after he had risen early on the first day of the week (possibly around sundown on Saturday, Nisan 17 leading to Sunday. Matt 28.1-2 says “after the sabbaths” which is plural. This would be the sabbath of Nisan 15 and the weekly sabbath that ended at sundown), he first appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20.14), from whom he had cast out seven demons (just as the manna appeared in the wilderness, Yeshua begins appearing to his people).
v 10…She went and reported to those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping (over his death and their desertion of him and their denials).
v 11…And when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they refused to believe her (they were still in denial and unbelief).
v 12…And after that, he appeared in a different form to two of them, while they were walking along on their way to the country (Luke 24.13).
v 13…And they went away and reported it to others, but they did not believe them either.
v 14…And afterward he appeared to the eleven (minus Judas) themselves as they were reclining; and he reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart (for not believing the witnesses of his resurrection, who confirmed what Yeshua had already told them was going to happen), because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen.
v 15…And he said to them (the eleven and the others present), “Go into the world and preach the gospel (the Basar, which was already being preached before Yeshua-Gal 3.8; Heb 4.2) to all creation (the Basar is the redemption which included man and the universe, etc. See our article called “The Basar” for more information on this concept on this website).
v 16…And he who has believed and has been immersed (into God’s benefits and purposes in the kingdom of God; the reason one is immersed-Luke 7.30) shall be saved (save his life from eternal separation-John 5.24), but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned (to eternal separation).
v 17…And these signs will accompany those who have believed (these signs will appear among believers, not that every believer will do all these signs): in my name (his authority) they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues (that they never knew),
v 18…they will pick up serpents (literally, as in Acts 28.3, but this is also an idiom for handling the enemy and overcoming false doctrine) and if they drink any deadly poison (an idiom for understanding any attack against our heart and mind with false doctrine, a root of poisonous fruit-Deut 29.18; Rev 8.11; Deut 32.33; this also alludes to the Sotah ceremony, or adultery test, in Num 5.11-30. If the woman was innocent of adultery nothing would happen to her after she drank the water of bitterness) it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover (contrary to certain teachings, these manifestations can still be seen today).”
v 19…So then, when the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven (The Mount of Olives, at the same place the Shekinah departed in Ezek 11.23; Acts 1.10-12. This shows that Yeshua as a “korban” was accepted-Judges 13.20), and sat down at the right hand of God (his work of redemption is finished and the Father is satisfied).
v 20…And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed (the purpose of a miracle is to draw your attention to what that person is teaching-Deut 13.1-5). Amen (means “to be trusted, so be it, and it relates to the word “Emunah” meaning faith or confidence leading to action).
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