# Mark Chapter 16
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## Summary
Mary Magdalene and another Mary (not the mother of Jesus) attend the tomb to anoint Jesus and find a young man dressed in a white robe who tells them Jesus is risen. Jesus then appears to Mary Magdalene, to two disciples and finally to eleven disciples. Jesus then charges the disciples to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation. Jesus is then taken into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

## Imagery and Themes
Women are the first witnesses onto the scene of the resurrection. Again this would have been controversial but entirely consistent with Jesus approach to rejecting the traditional hierarchical structures. Consistent with the idea that without faith it is impossible to please God this very approach leaves the disciples in a situation when again they must learn to act in faith. Ultimately appearing to four witnesses was not sufficient for the disciples who much then be visited and charged to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

This preaching to all creation is interesting, and consistent with the notion that the plan was not just good news to humans, but to all creation. The contrast with Mathews emphasis on making disciples of all nations [^1] is stark. As such the coming of the kingdom is about the reorientation of all creation not just the human relationship. Marks Gospel makes this point most strongly.

I also can't overlook the prime example here of why not to make an idol of scripture. Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20 the translators tell me and as such this very much seems to be a later addition. This does not mean that we should discard Marks account but it does give us pause to recognise some of the challenges we face as those that commit ourselves to their study. This are books written by men, inspired by God and as such will contain the kinds of inaccuracies, inconsistencies and mistakes that humans are liable to introduce. For me it is sufficient to be confronted by the contents of scripture. I do not wish or need to defend their content. Like the mirror it is scripture reads us all.

[^1] [Matthew 28:16-20](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028%3A16-20&version=ESV)