But Wait! There's More!

But Wait!  There’s More!

Mark 16:1-8

            As I said last week, the ending to Mark’s gospel leaves us feeling that something’s missing.  It ends so abruptly that we feel cheated, especially when we compare it with the endings of the other gospels.  We are not alone in this feeling.  Later editors added first a short ending then a longer one, so that eventually twelve verses were attached to Mark’s last chapter, documenting some of Jesus’ post-resurrection experiences.

            N.T. Wright believes Mark wrote a longer ending of his own that was lost.  Perhaps, but more likely Mark’s intention was, as many experts believe, to leave the ending to us.  We are the ones who must carry out the commission given to the women that first Easter.  It becomes our work to spread the news that Jesus is alive.

            Still, we miss so much without the post-resurrection experiences the other gospel writers share with us.  How empty our account of the resurrection would be without them!

            Jesus meeting his disciples on a mountain in Galilee and giving them the Great Commission (Matthew).

            Jesus joining the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, sharing the gospel with them, then revealing himself to them.  Their joy and excitement led them to turn around and rush back to Jerusalem to share their experience with Jesus’ followers, only to hear them say, “We have seen the Lord.”  Then Jesus stood appeared (Luke).

            Three of the most beautiful, meaningful stories in the Bible:  first Jesus’ conversation with Mary Magdalene in the garden, the religious source of that beautiful old hymn we sing too infrequently.  Then his appearance in the upper room that night, while Thomas is away.  When Thomas returned he was skeptical about Jesus’ resurrection.  Then Jesus returned, and Thomas  confessed, “My Lord, and my God!”  Finally, Jesus’ meets with Peter and six other disciples by the Sea of Galilee where he lovingly reconciles with Peter (John).

            Without these stories our own post-resurrection experience is far less rich.  With them we can visualize the risen Christ interacting with his closest followers, enriching their lives, reconnecting with them lovingly and forgivingly.  We long to see the risen Christ—not in person.  That would be asking too much.  But when we read these stories we are there with the disciples, sharing their joy, their amazement, their sense of completeness.  Their master is back with them.  Even though it will be for a limited time, they are glad.

            Experiencing something vicariously can never be as fulfilling as experiencing it firsthand, but there are many experiences we cannot have firsthand.  This is one.  While we might have a sense of Jesus at work in our lives, and feel him close to us, it means so much to hear his words to those first disciples, to experience the accounts of his interaction with them, to imagine their joy at his presence as they finally understand and believe what he had told them so often.

            As we read Mark’s account, we may sympathize with the women.  They had been given unbelievable news.  We can feel their fear as they hurry from the tomb, not knowing what to do, and believing it best to say nothing until they can be completely sure.  We may find ourselves saying, “Well, if they won’t tell the story of the risen Christ, I suppose it’s up to me to spread the word that Jesus is alive.”  All this is good, but still unsatisfying.

            But wait!  There’s more!  We can run with Peter and John to the empty tomb.  We can walk the Emmaus road.  We can share in Thomas’ confession, and Mary’s devotion.  We can feel the joy of those who say, “We have seen the Lord!” and our own joy will be full.