Mark 16:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

NIV: As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

NASB: And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.

CSB: When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed.

NLT: When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked,

KJV: And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

NKJV: And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

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).

Mark 16:1–8 proclaims that Jesus is alive! After telling the disciples, several times over three years,that He will die and rise again, Jesus' work is finally done. But the disciples are in hiding. Only the women come to the tomb, carrying burial spices instead of hope. Among them are Mary Magdalene, the ''other'' Mary, and Salome, along with Joanna and some of the other women who have supported Jesus' ministry (Luke 8:3; 24:10). They have come to care for Him one last time, but He is not there. He is risen! This account is also found in Matthew 28:1–8, Luke 24:1–8, and John 20:1.

After the mandatory time of rest, several of Jesus' female followers approach His tomb intending to anoint the body. Their primary concern is who will open the tomb for them so they can honor Jesus' remains. They arrive to find the tomb open, empty, and watched over by angels. After hearing from these beings (Luke 24:4–7), the women leave in fear, speaking only to the disciples. This ends the original, God-inspired text of the Gospel of Mark. Verses 9–20 are mostly corroborated by other Scripture, but were not part of the initial writing.

Leading up to chapter 16, Jesus has been unfairly tried and executed by crucifixion. Starting in this passage, Jesus' women followers find an empty tomb, but don't know what it means. Jesus' work for our salvation is done, but explaining that to His disciples will take another forty days (Acts 1:3). And telling the world is a work that will continue until His return. The resurrection and events after are also covered in Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20—21, and Acts 1:1–11. The most reliable copies of the Gospel of Mark leave the disciples where they have spent much of the story: confused and afraid. Jesus is risen, but they haven't yet accepted that. Everything after verse 9 is most likely a later scribal addition.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.