#7170       The Events that Happened After Jesus Christ Was Placed in the Tomb,
which are not included in some manuscripts.

In many manuscripts the book of Mark ends with this verse. However the thought is not complete, for there is much more that happened. If you have a Companion Bible, in Appendix 168, we see that there are three different sources that discuss this issue as to where Mark ends. These three are (1) manuscripts, (2) the Syraic, the Latin, the Gothic, the Egyptian, and the Armenian versions, and (3) the early Christian writers known as "the fathers".

As to the manuscripts, there are none older than the fourth century, and the oldest two uncial MSS, are without those twelve verses. Of all the others (consisting of some eighteen uncials and some six hundred cursive MSS. (which contain the Gospel of Mark) there is not one which leaves out these twelve verses. So the change as to whether it was there or not came between the second oldest manuscript, and the third. These Manuscripts have been with us a long time and these twelve verses are verified by the other Gospels as to whether the events happened.

There are five basic versions, the Syraic, the Latin, the Gothic, the Egyptian, and the Armenian versions. All of these versionS that came later contain the final twelve verses.

There are over two hundred early Christian writers, called "the Fathers", and even the earliest (Papias, about A.D.100), shortly after the book of Revelations was written, refers to verse (18) in His writings. The Appendix 168, gives sixteen of these early Father of the Church that gave mention to these last twelve verses.

The point I am making is that many of the earliest authorities of the Scripture knew of these twelve verses and regarded them highly, as we also shall do in this study. I believe that these Scriptures belong because God has allowed it to remain in our Word of God. When someone says that it is not in the Bible, remember that God has allowed it to be there, and as such I personally accept it.

Mark 16:9 "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils."

Mary Magdalene's life must have really changed, from a life filled with seven devils, to one possessed by the Holy Spirit of God. Just as He changed her life, He can also do it for you and I, no matter how deep in sin a person has fallen. God can change lives.

Mark 16:10 "And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept."

Though Mary Magdalene went to morn and weep because the tomb was empty, shortly she will come to understand the joy and victory this represented in the empty tomb. Jesus had told them before hand, and did they believe? If they would have there would have been joy and not confusion. Mary took the words that this angel spoke to her, and joyfully went to spread the word to the others.

Mark 16:11 "And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not."

When Jesus own disciples heard that Jesus had risen from the lips of Mary, they just did not believe her. Even when Jesus told them many times exactly what would happen, they still did not believe. Those that had walked with Jesus for three years and seen the miracles and heard the teaching, and even witnessed the transfiguration, stood there in disbelief. Jesus told them that He would be crucified and he would resurrect, and here Mary standing before them with tears of joy telling something that she just witnessed and still they would not believe when she said, "He lives, He is risen from the dead."

I feel that this sleep was placed upon them for their own protection, as Paul writes in Romans 11:7, 8; What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear"); unto this day."

It was a lesson to us living in this final generation, that many of those that know the truth will be blinded to the truth, even when it is set before them, and will blindly follow after the Antichrist, Satan the great deceiver. Sometimes things happen for a purpose for other generation to learn by. Lets follow this event through by the record given in Luke 24:10.

Luke 24:10 "It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."

These are the same three people that Mark gave, only it is said just a little differently.

Luke 24:11 "And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not."

The first preachers to bring the gospel to us men folk were women, even from the resurrection, and the men simply would not believe them. To many today not much has changed, and many so-called preachers today simply don't believe that women should be in the pulpit. They are wrong!

"Idle tales" as given in the Greek manuscripts is "leros", and it means "silly nonsense", and this is the only time in God's Word that this is used in the Scriptures. It comes from a Greek medical term for "delirium". The disciples thought Mary Magdalene was out of her mind.

Luke 24:12 "Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen cloths laid by themselves, and departed wonder in himself at that which was come to pass."

This is obvious, as much as the angel had mentioned Peter's name back in verse seven, that Jesus had already forgiven him of his denial and disbelief during Jesus trial. Peter had repented for his denial, and now in his excitement Peter is running to the sepulchre to verify that truly Christ is risen. I can just picture in my mind as Peter kneeling down by those linen cloths, and finally realizing that Jesus truly had risen.

Peter should have known what would have happened, but now that it has come to pass, he was wondering why he had allowed himself to doubt those things that Christ had told him.

Have you ever read something in God's Word, accepted it as being true, but in the back of your mind you just didn't have the faith to believe it completely? How about when Jesus told you the events of the end times, and that two christs are coming that you will see? Do you believe it, or are you still looking for some flyaway, an escape into an idle tale, such as the rapture doctrine. I think Peter's eyes were closed for a time for our behalf, to let us know how easily people's eyes can be closed to the truth.

Luke 24:13 "And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs."

"Emmaus" in the Hebrew means "warm baths" and that is what these men were going there to do, get their warm baths. This place was about seven and a half miles from Jerusalem.

Luke 24:14 "And they talked together of all these thing which had happened."

These two were followers of Christ, and they were talking over those wonderful times that they had with Jesus in His ministry.

Luke 24:15 "And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them."

Now in the Spiritual body, Jesus is walking along with these two men, and talking to them. Jesus is right by their side, and they can see Jesus and they think that Jesus is just another man.

Luke 24:16 "But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him."

"Holden" in the Strong's Greek dictionary is 2902; "krateo", meaning, "kept from their eyes". These two men simply could not realize the truth. Were they stupid? No, but maybe Jesus thought that they couldn't handle the truth at that time, unless they were taught properly. They could see Jesus, talk to Him and know that he was there, but this slumber to Jesus identity was placed upon these men.

Luke 24:17 "And He said unto them, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

This was supposed to be a time of rejoicing, for Christ had risen from the dead. It was on Sunday morning that Mary had told the disciples, for the distance they were walking tells us that it was beyond a Sabbaths day's walk.

Luke 24:18 "And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, "Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?"

Cleopas is asking Jesus, "where have you been, are you a stranger in Jerusalem, are you blind to what has happened in Jerusalem in these past days?" Everybody in Judaea knew what had happened in the trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. After all, there was three hours of darkness in the middle of the day, earthquakes and the dead walking the streets of Jerusalem.

Luke 24:19 "And He said unto them, "What things?" And they said unto Him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:"

Jesus was more than a prophet, my friend, He was the Son of God.

Luke 24:20 "And how the chief priest and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him."

Cleopas is telling Jesus, this is why we are sad.

Luke 24:21 "But we trusted that it had been He Which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done."

These two are saying, "We trusted Him and thought that He was our Savior." They are recalling that this was after the third day since the burial, and this should have been a clue that what Mary told them was the truth.

Luke 24:22 "Yea, and certain women also our our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;"

You can just hear these men calling the women that went to the sepulchre, silly women.

Luke 24:23 "And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive."

Notice that the story that was passed from one to another had changed, and now the one angel has become angels. As bad as they wanted it to be true, they couldn't bring themselves to believe it.

Luke 24:25 "Then He said unto them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"

Do you see doubt in this, for Jesus had told them, and also the prophets also wrote it is the Scriptures. That was the reason for the transfiguration, so there would be no great shock at the change from our flesh body to the our spiritual body. That was the message that Jesus gave, when He allowed Peter, James and John to witness the trans-figuration. Through out the entire Word of God, over and over the detail of the crucifixion and resurrection are given, yet when it came to pass the people would not believe it when Jesus stood before their eye.

The Bible is the Word of God, and fools are slow of heart to believe in what the prophets have spoken. This is to show you that some people can be blinded, to exactly what tomorrow is going to bring, even when they are living in the days, and seeing it right before their eyes. We know what the "new world order" is because we have read of it from the Prophets, from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and all the Miner Prophets. We have been foretold all things and we had better pay attention to what is going on around us. Can we change the events that God has said would happen? Of course not, but we had better not get into God's way as these events come to pass, for they shall.

Luke 24:26 "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?"

Of course Christ had to suffer all of these thing. Psalms 22 recorded all of the details of what took place just prior to the conversation Jesus is having with these two men. Here they are crying their tears over something that they should be rejoicing over.

Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself."

How would you like to sit in on this Bible study that Jesus giving these two men. He is covering the entire Scripture going all the way back to the beginning. Jesus Christ is opening their eyes all over again.

Luke 24:28 "And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and He made as though He would have gone further."

As they arrived at Emmas, Jesus is about to bid them farewell and leave them.

Luke 24:29 "But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to terry with them."

This was exciting to them and they wanted to hear more for Jesus had opened their eyes to the Scriptures. Jesus did go in with them.

Luke 24:30 "And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it and brake, and gave to them."

This should have opened their eyes and Jesus sat there at the table and blessed the meal, and gave thanks for food.

Luke 24:31 "And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight."

Imagine how exciting this was to these two men, as all of a sudden they looked over the table and realized who was breaking bread with them. They finally realized that it was Jesus Christ, the Son of God that had walked and talked with them.

Luke 24:32 "And they said one to another, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?"

How about you, have you ever had the scriptures so opened to you, that it burned in your heart, and in your mind they came to life? That is talking with God, to read and know the Scriptures with understanding. To understand God's Word to where it become a guiding light for every word you speak, and deed that you do. That is what the Bible is, it is the Word of God spoken from His mind to yours with understanding. Jesus Christ is that living Word. Have you read it with understanding? "It is written", and it is written expressly for your understanding of God's instructions to you.

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Luke 24:33 "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gather together, and them that were with them, "

Luke 24:34 "Saying, "The Lord, is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon."

Luke 24:35 "And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was know of them in breaking of bread."

These two told the disciples how Jesus walked with them, teaching and bringing all the Word of the Prophets to them, and then how they were awakened while Jesus sat with them, blessing the food and breaking the bread. Then as they finally understood exactly who He was, Jesus vanished.

These people were put through this to make the very point known to us living today, to wake us up to those things that are taking place around us each day we live. God is speaking to people daily, and God through the prophets foretold us everything that we should expect to see, and we had better pay special attention to the events that were foretold. It is important that we not only learn of those things, but we must also learn how to trust Him, for He promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He will deliver you up if you have eyes to see and ears to hear to be a witness for Him, He promised us that He will even give us the Words to say.

After this review, lets return to Mark 16:12.

Mark 16:12 "After that He appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country."

Mark is reminding us of what we just read from Luke 24:13-36.

Mark 16:13 "And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them."

Just as those two men were blinded to who Jesus was, and they simply did not believe that Jesus had risen; so also the disciples also were blinded to this same disbelief. In that three day time that Jesus was away from His followers, the whole group just fell apart in disbelief. Even His apostles disbelieved, however Peter went to that tomb to verify for himself that the body was missing.

Mark 16:14 "Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen."

Judas is dead at this time so the eleven are those other disciples that were with Christ through His ministry. As the disciples were together arguing in disbelief, Jesus appeared to His disciples and He scolded them for their unbelief. I'm sure that each of the disciples stood there and took Jesus' words humbly as they finally realized exactly who Jesus was. Can't you just see Jesus standing before these men, reminding them of each time that He told them of his suffering death and resurrection.

Today many churches get so mixed up on things that are contrary with God's Word that they spend more time trying to straighten out their fiction of man's word than learning the truth from God's Word.

Mark 16:15 "And He said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

The gospel of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection is to be preached to every one of God's creation: To every race, peoples, and tongues of the earth. There are many language barriers as these disciples scattered throughout the earth to preach the gospel to every race and tongue. So how can you tell them of this gospel, if you cannot speak the language? Jesus instructions were to go to all the world and preach the gospel.

It means that somebody is going to have to learn those languages that the other people of the earth speak, and learn to relate this gospel with understanding. This is the "great commission" that Jesus gave to us.

Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned [condemned]."

We are to follow in Christ's footsteps, and in that He was baptized, so should we be baptized. Many wonder if one is not baptized, does that mean that they are not saved? The foremost requirement of Salvation is ones Faith that allows him to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He lived the perfect life, then suffered as the Scriptures prophesied and taught He did; then died on the cross for our sins, and rose the third day, as the Scriptures said that He would.

It is true that not everyone ends up in heaven equal. They will be there equal as far as God's love is concerned, but some will be very wealthy, while others very poor by heavenly standards. Remember, there is only one thing that you can take with you, and that is your righteous acts, your works. Many find this difficult to believe, even when Jesus told us.

Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, "Write, `Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.' "

This is why there is a judgment, for it is rewarding you for the works that you have done for the Lord. Those works go to make up the very fabric of your righteous robes. So not every one will be equal in Heaven. God is always fair, and this is how it should be. This will not create any problems for the Millennium kingdom will be a time for maturing to where every person who's name is written in the Lamb's "book of life" will be perfectly happy and contented.

Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;"

"The signs" are those thing that make it obvious that the Holy Spirit is with that individual. You either have Christ in you or you don't, if you have Christ in you, then His Spirit, the Holy Spirit is there also. It is just that simple. The signs are all those things that allow us to understand completely that this person is a believer. Those things that they do will be done only in Jesus name, for Jesus gets all the glory of any of their works that they do. The Christians know that what ever God allows them to do, He has given them also the gift to accomplish that work. Whether preaching or teaching, playing an instrument, or football, or riding in a wheelchair and praying and witnessing to others. The "new tongues" is not "unknown tongues", but new languages, teaching and preaching so that what you say will be understood completely.

If you take the truth to the entire world, you will either learn the language with understanding of the country that you will teach in, or they simply will not understand you. The disciples and those that are going out to teach the gospel are going to have to learn those languages, or they are going to have to take an interpreter with them. If the people don't understand what your saying, they won't even know when to say Amen.

By the Spirit of God, we even have power over Satan and all his realm, including his evil spirits. Jesus has given us power over all our enemies, that these evil spirits are included. Luke 10:19; "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." That includes anything that can harm you while you are under this commission. We have the victory even over Satan himself, as far as his interfering with you, and if those problems come, you can't even blame it on Satan, for it is you that must take the power into your own hands. Take a stand when evil forces come against you, and take command and use the power that God has vested in you. That power is in Jesus name, and the strength comes from the strength that the Holy Spirit has placed around you. That is the promise that those that believe have, and it is power to us.

Mark 16:18 "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Spiritually speaking, Satan is the serpent, as Revelation 12:9 tells us so. Satan and his evil spirits are afraid of you. If you take this literal, and go to the woods and pick up a live rattle snakesnake, I guarantee you that that old rattler does not know that he is to be afraid of you, and he will strike you. He does not know whether you have faith or not, and he could care less what you believe or not. The other thing that should enter in here is that I hope that a snake is not what is used as a measure of my faith, for Satan thinks as a snake and he is a liar.

Those that participate in the handling of snakes as a form of testing ones faith, are tempting God, and using God's Word for their own demise. Yet many do in various parts of the world. Christ is not telling anyone to drink poison, for this is a figure of speech referring to malicious gossip. It is taking a part truth, and changing it to destroy someone or some thing. It is taking a truth and twisting and turning it into a lie. Jesus is saying that there will be those that will allow Satan to twist their minds to try to destroy you, but you don't have to allow that to happen.

The poison and filth that people will use against you will not harm you when you are in the will of God. We are to live our lives so that our character will be such that it just doesn't matter what people say about us, for our character will stand the test. A true Christians character will stand all the tests of all the liars and gossip spreaders can spread about you. That is what taking the poison means here. Lies and gossip runs off of you like water off a ducks back.

Mark 16:19 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

We know from Acts 1:7-9 where this took place. We know that this is where Jesus will be, at the right hand of the Father as our advocate, until this earth age is finished.

Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

They went everywhere, around the sinners, and in the high courts, even to the kings and Caesar himself, in Paul's case. Jesus disciples fanned out over the world from India and the east, to Africa and the parts to the north. This ministering is very well known, as recorded through many historical records. When you preach the Word of God to reach the sinners, then you have to go where the sinners are. What are you going to preach? "The Lord working with them." This working is what we have just finished in this entire book of Mark. It also includes the rest of the New Testament, and all of the Old Testament, and it includes all the promises that God has made to those that by faith repent and believe on His name.

"Confirming" in the Greek text is "Bebaioo, to establish, to make sure, steadfast, and give stability". All of the signs and prophecies that our Lord Jesus Christ gave, that are written in His Word gives us the guideposts to place in our minds. The Holy Spirit will give us the understanding of those things that Jesus taught, and in this final generation we are to be on watch for those signs of the end times, of the generation that we are now living in, so that we will not be deceived.

#7170       The event that Happened After Jesus Christ Was Placed in the Tomb, which are not encluded in some manuscripts.

                                                              

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