Mark 16

Mark has a very odd ending. In fact, in most Bibles, it has three possible ending points: one in the middle of verse 8, one at the end of verse 8, and one after verse 20.

The very oldest manuscripts end with the women running from the empty tomb and the angel, then saying nothing to anyone, which seems like a very strange way to end such an important story.

Some Bible scholars and historians think Mark intentionally ended here. Obviously, the people who were reading his gospel knew that the actual events didn’t end there. The women obviously told people, otherwise the Gospels would never have been written. So why would Mark end the story so abruptly?

It might be that Mark wanted people to put themselves in the place of those women and honestly ask themselves, “What would I have done if it were me? Would I have believed? Would I have run away in fear? Would I have shared the good news? Would I have given my life to following the risen and living Jesus?”

Maybe Mark ended this way in order to ask every reader and listener, “Who do you say Jesus is? And how is that going to impact your entire life — your decisions, your thoughts, your words, your attitudes, your actions?” It's the most important question we will ever answer.