14. UNBELIEVABLE RESURRECTION (Mark 16:1-14)
Background: According to an ancient tradition Mark is Peter’s scribe. The Gospel of Mark is thus Jesus’ life seen through Peter’s eyes. One theme in this Gospel is the unbelief of the disciples. Even though Jesus had foretold his death and resurrection the disciples did not believe this to be possible.
1. Why did the women from Galilee stubbornly go to the tomb even though they knew the stone and the Roman guards (according to St. Matthew) to prevent their access inside (1-3)?
2. That time it was customary that the dead body was anointed with fragrant ointments. The women had seen the anointing of the battered body of Jesus two days earlier. Why would they have wanted to anoint it once more?
Only John had seen the death of Jesus. The other disciples did not want to see Jesus’ dead body at all. Why not?
3. If the women had believed in Jesus’ resurrection based on his predictions, what would they have been doing on Easter Sunday?
4. What did the women think when hearing the angel’s words (6)?
In spite of the angel’s words the women were, however, so much afraid that they did not dare to tell anybody about the resurrection (8). What were they so afraid of?
5. Why did Jesus choose these women as the first witnesses of his resurrection, even though that time women were not even suitable as witnesses in law-courts (7, 10)?
6. What in your life seems as impossible as the arousing of a dead person? (you can answer silently in your mind)
What would you answer if Jesus criticised your faith in the way described in verse 14? (each one reads the verse silently by himself)
7. Peter had disowned his Lord two days earlier. What did Jesus’ special greetings mean to him (7)?
Imagine that you had deceived your friend badly. What would you think if soon afterwards you heard from Jesus greetings informing that he would like to meet you? What alternatives would you consider to be the reason for the prospective meeting?
8. We read together Jn 3:16.
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