In the
last reflection, we noted that verse 16:8 was almost certainly the original
ending of the Gospel of Mark. In the
church’s current version there are at least two or three additions that were
most likely added in the second century AD after the other three gospels (and
the book of Acts) were published and distributed. The support for this claim is that it seems some
of the details from those other sources were collected and tacked onto
Mark. Rather than completely dismiss
them, we can gratefully receive them as a faithful witness to us from the
church of the second century after Jesus’s time on earth.
This
first addition to Mark above seeks to deal with the discomfiting ending of the original
gospel, which ends with the witnesses to the resurrection saying nothing to nobody.
“Overcome with terror and dread,
they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”
(Mark 16:8)
While the women might possibly have remained quiet for a
time, the other gospels give testimony to the fact that the primary witnesses
of the resurrection were indeed these women.
They eventually told people.
The
second half of this new short ending echoes the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20:
“Therefore, go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve
commanded you.”
Whoever was responsible for this addition wanted to make
sure that the early church was clearly committed to this primary directive of
Jesus to share the news of the Gospel with all peoples. To be clear, this is in keeping with Mark’s
concern in chapter 13:10, which states, “first,
the good news must be proclaimed to all the nations.”
The
fact that the editor felt the need to include a reminder of the primary mission
of the church at the end of Mark just a couple of generations after the great
explosion of the church’s mission in the first century is telling of how
quickly the church seems to wander off-mission and begin to focus on less
critical matters.
In our own day, culture wars,
political wrangling, and protection of the status quo have left the church
needing to be reminded again of what the main thing should be – the core gospel
message that salvation is now accessible through the life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. The church is not primarily
a social club, holy huddle, or even a philanthropic organization. The church is the primary vehicle God has
chosen to continue the mission of Christ.
Where disciples are not being made, the church is not the actually the
church.
Questions: In the
church where you are most associated, what is the most important thing based on
the way it spends time and resources?
When was the last time you were witness to a person beginning to follow Jesus
for the first time?
Prayer: God, forgive us for all the time, energy, and
resources we expend on things that have no eternal significance. Show us what Your mission looks like in our
neighborhood and give us courage, discipline, and wisdom to engage it with our
heart and lives. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for churches around the world facing persecution right now.
Song: Reach One More – Rich Muchow
This first link is Rick Warren telling the story behind the
song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud0-7vo6tZE
This is the actual song.
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