Text: Mark 16:9-14
Title: Blessed Are Those Who Do Not See Yet Believe
I want to take a few minutes this morning and describe just a little bit about the
inclusion of this text in the Bible. I don’t want to get too technical about the science of
Textual Criticism, but I think that it is important to give a little explanation since most
scholars do not believe that these were the words of Mark but were a scribal addition. After
this, I will open up the text and apply it. But at the end of the day what matters is that we
see Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to witnesses that we might believe.
To Include or Not To Include
Let me begin by saying that most scholars who have given their lives to studying
original texts do not believe that vv. 9-20 were penned by Mark. I will also add that I agree
with their conclusion, but also in same breath say that this in no way should cause us to
doubt the Bible as we have it. There is abundance evidence as to why they have come to
this conclusion. Some of the earliest and most reliable manuscripts that remain do not
include these verses, but rather end with verse 8. Several manuscripts contain these verses,
but have scribal notes stating that the older Greek manuscripts do not include them. Others
include them, but with an asterisk indicating that they believed them to be spurious, and
thus not the words of Mark himself. Some of the vocabulary used in these verses does not
match the rest of the book of Mark. Verse 9 sees fit to re-introduce Mary, even though she is
mentioned in the previous verses, which shows a discontinuity with preceding verses.
Finally, some of the early church Fathers, such as Eusebius (AD 300) and Jerome (AD 400),
state that the best manuscripts of their day ended at v. 8.
When we think about how and why these verses are now here, it is important that
we remember that the first printed copy of the NT did not come until 1516. For the first
1500 years after Jesus, the text was preserved through hand written copies of the texts. We
do not have the original of any of the NT letters. Everything that we have is hand written
copies of the original, and or copies of copies. This is probably a providential act as we
would probably make idols of them and charge a lot of money for people to come and see
them.
But it is also important that we understand that we have today over 5000
manuscripts of either whole or partial NT Greek manuscripts surviving. This is rather
astonishing, and I would say an act of the hand of God as we have little to no remaining
original manuscripts of other writings of that time. For example, Caesar’s Gaelic Wars,
written about 50 BC, has 10 surviving manuscripts all dating 10th century and later.
Tacitus’ Annals and Histories, written about AD 100, has 2 surviving manuscripts from the
9th and 11th century. And we could go on. When these documents are read, it is assumed by
scholars to be the writing of the original authors. The number of surviving NT manuscripts
only adds certainty that the text that we have as the Bible is the Bible, even though there
are disputed verses such as we find here. If there were only two letters and there was
discrepancy, then there would be little assurance that either was correct. When there are
hundreds of copies, then that gives opportunity to examine the who, what, when and
wheres and make fairly certain conclusions as to what was original and what was not.
It is also important to note that there are relatively few passages of scripture that
are disputed, next to none when you consider the great volume of Biblical text. This ending
of Mark and the account of the adulterous woman in John 8 are some of the major texts that
are disputed. What is even more important is that the disputed texts that do exist do not
affect any Biblical doctrine as we have it and believe it. These verses that are added to Mark
appear in the other gospels, and appear to be condensed versions of the ending to Matt,
Luke, John. The exception being the predicted signs in vv 17-18, although we know that
these acts were performed by the Apostles. We have Biblical records of Jesus appearance.
We have Biblical records of the Great Commission. We have Biblical records of the
ascension. This record does not contradict any of those accounts, but rather appears to be a
summary of them. Therefore, I feel comfortable reading and preaching from them.
Christ Appeared
As we examine these verses we find a record of the appearance of Jesus at three
different times following his resurrection. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, a record
that is backed up in Matthew’s gospel in 28:9. Matthew states that it happened as she left
the tomb on her way to the disciples, which would coincide with this account. Second, Jesus
appeared to two unidentified disciples as they are walking in the country, which fits the
record of Luke 24 and his appearance on the road to Emmaus. Verse 12 states that he
appeared in another form, which also fits well with Luke’s record as they were unable to
identify him until they broke bread and their eyes were opened. You remember that it was
on this road that Jesus opened up the OT to them and showed how it pointed to him and
how he fulfilled the OT scriptures.
What is interesting is that in these two appearances we have a pattern using the
very same language in each case. Jesus appeared to… and the circumstances surround the
appearance stated. Following the appearance, those to whom he appeared go and report it
to the disciples. We see in verse 10, “She went and told those who had been with them.” We
find in verse 13, “They went back and told the rest.” What is stunning in each occasion was
the reaction of the disciples to the report of Jesus appearance given them. Verse 11, “But
they did not believe.” Verse 13, “but they did not believe.” In spite of all the OT prophesies,
in spite of all that Jesus had taught, in spite of all the direct words from his mouth he would
rise after 3 days, they did not believe. Even with the reports that others had seen the Lord
risen from the grave and that the angel had appeared and stated that he was risen they did
not believe. Instead they were mourning and weeping because Jesus was dead.
The question becomes, what was it that changed this small band of cowardly men
into those who would later be described as turning the world upside down? Let’s face, this
was a group of defeated men from the time that Jesus was arrested onward they could not
be found, they were hiding out for fear. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah whom
they expected, the son of David who was to come, but now he was dead Now their hopes
and dreams are crushed and three days later they are still mourning and weeping because
the one they had hoped would be the king of Israel had been crucified and was dead and
lying in a grave. Mary is going to the tomb to anoint a dead body that she fully expects to
find in that tomb. The two disciples on road to Emmaus said, “we hoped that he was the one
who was to redeem Israel.” Even with reports that he has risen, they are so defeated that
they still do not believe. They report and disciples do not believe.
What was it that changed them into bold witness? Verse14, “then afterward he
appeared to the eleven themselves as they were dining at the table.” He appeared to them.
After he had risen he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and their
hardness of heart. Oh the grace of Jesus that he appeared to them. Why? Because they had
not believed reports of those who had seen him after he had risen. Their entire
transformation can be attributed to one fact, which is the certainty of the resurrection of
Jesus from the grave after three days. They had seen the risen Lord, now they were
convinced.
Faith Is Not Blind
This is important because there is a common misperception in our day about the
nature of faith. The common thought is that faith is irrational and walking blindly, that
religion is thus only for the weak minded and ignorant. It is thought to be irrational to
believe that God became man. It is thought to be irrational to believe that Jesus walked on
water or healed the blind or calmed the raging seas. It is particularly thought to be
irrational to believe that someone could rise from the grave after being buried for three
days. The common thought is that the people of that day were not as technologically
advanced as are people in our day. They simply weren’t as smart as we are, therefore they
cannot be blamed for believing these things. But the Biblical record says differently. As the
witnesses came forward and proclaimed we have seen him, they did not believe. As their
own brothers came forward and proclaim we have seen the risen Lord, they would not
believe. They were as skeptical as anyone today. They would not believe until they had
seen him with their own eyes. Even when he appeared to the 11, Thomas was not present
at the initial appearance and proclaims unless I see the marks in his hands and place my
hands in the scars I will not believe.
Faith is anything but irrational. It is believing the testimony that is presented. How
do we know that something that happened in the past is true? Take for example the
bombing of Pearl Harbor, how do I know that it happened? We examine the facts. We hear
those who were present and weigh their testimony and either believe it and accept as
credible or as a lie. When there are discrepancies in the testimony, we have issues. But
where the testimony is the same then we can take it to heart. I believe Pearl Harbor was
bombed because I can go and see the USS Arizona. I can read the testimony of those who
were there.
There is nothing in the ancient world that has had a greater more consistent
testimony than the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Jesus was seen by Mary
Magdalene, after he had risen from the grave, who reported it to the 11. He was seen by the
two disciples as they were walking in the country, who reported what they had seen and
heard to the rest. He was seen by the eleven, who suddenly changed from being a cowardly
group of men who were in hiding to those who went forth in boldness. If they had not seen
him risen there is no reason to think they would have changed and risked their lives for
what not believe. Paul says that he appeared and was seen by more than 500 who could
give eye-witness testimony that they had seen the risen Lord. At the time these records
were written, you could have found any of these people and asked them. Any of them could
have denied it and stated that it was all a lie, but they didn’t. Instead were willing to risk
their very lives.
The resurrection of Jesus the Son of God is not only historical, but is completely
rational. The NT Easter account is the only thing that makes sense of the big picture of life
and this world. The story of the Bible is that God has made you, but we have rejected his
rule. The story of the Bible is that Jesus has come to restore us by taking our sins upon
himself and satisfying God’s justice for our rejection of him. The resurrection of Jesus from
the grave is an affirmation that Jesus can be trusted. The resurrection of Jesus is a
proclamation from the Father that all Jesus says about saving us from our sins, about giving
us eternal life for faith in him can be trusted. The bottom line is either Jesus entered this
world in human flesh and died and rose from the grave as testified by these eye-witnesses,
or it is the greatest hoax of all recorded humanity. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have
not seen, and yet believe.”