What does Mark 16:5 mean?
Jesus' women followers have supported Him, traveled with Him, and provided what honor they could (Luke 8:1–3). Although John followed the chief priests' guards into the trial before the Sanhedrin (John 18:15–16) and stayed with Jesus during some of the crucifixion (John 19:25–27), it was the women who stood vigil until Jesus was dead and buried. They saw His mangled flesh, torn apart by the Roman guards (Mark 15:15). They heard their so-called religious leaders mock their Lord (Mark 15:31–32). They have spent the last day or more "resting" during the Sabbath, unable to give their final support: to finish the preparations for His burial (Mark 16:1).The male disciples will not come with them, afraid of the Jewish council (John 20:19), so the women go to the grave alone. They enter the garden concerned about how they will move the stone that blocks the tomb, just to find the stone has already been moved, the body is gone, and an angel is waiting for them.
Despite all the women have done for Jesus throughout His ministry, they fell short in at least one thing: fully absorbing all He'd told them. Jesus said He would rise after three days (Mark 10:34). Even the chief priests and Pharisees came to understand His claim, although they don't believe Him (Matthew 27:63). The women's faith and courage in coming to the tomb is commendable. But if they had really understood and believed what Jesus said, they would know they are going to meet Jesus alive.
Matthew 28:2 says an angel rolled away the stone and sat on it. Luke 24:4 says there are two angels; perhaps only one speaks. Jesus' linen cloths are lying on the stone couch and the cloth that covered His face is folded neatly next to it (John 20:6–7). After Mary reports to the disciples, she will return to the tomb and find two angels sitting on either end of the bench, as if guarding the place where Jesus' body had lain (John 20:12), not unlike the top, or "mercy seat" of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:17–22). On either side of the mercy seat are cherubim of gold, guarding the center where God came to be with His people. Angels announced Jesus' birth (Luke 1:26–33; 2:8–14; Matthew 1:20–21) and now angels announce Jesus' resurrection and, later, His ascension (Acts 1:10–11).
