Introduction
There are many commentaries that look and reflect on the short ending of Mark. I will say that much of the scholarship right now believes this to be the original ending. It’s not a mistake. It’s not negligent. It has a narrative purpose. This ending in particular is supposed to inspire the listener/reader/audience. So how do we lean into the discomfort of this short ending in Mark?
Lean into the Discomfort
“And they were afraid.”
In other Gospels we get additional stories after this. In John we hear about Thomas and his doubts. In Luke we hear about the Road to Emmaus and Jesus walking along side two disciples that don’t recognize him until he breaks bread. In Matthew we hear the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
These Gospels have endings that feel like real endings. Endings that we’re used to and that we’re comfortable with.
Like Luke and his Father defeating the emperor in Star Wars and the Rebels are able to destroy the Death Star and we see them gathered together to celebrate. Like Harry vanquishing Voldemort in one final duel and know that our three heroes, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, can finally just live. Like Matilda finally having a place to call home and a mother to love her. Like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in every Nora Ephron movie finally falling in love at the end.
But Mark’s ending is different. “And they were afraid.” It’s a cliffhanger.
Even in Greek, this is an odd final phrase. Technically, this is a complete sentence. So, it’s not exactly like the Sopranos when the series ended in the middle of a sentence. But it is still abrupt and concluding a sentence with γάρ (gar) – which could be translated as “for” or “because” – is certainly uncommon (although not unheard of). And yet, narratively, it’s the perfect ending.
The Final Fleeing/Betrayal
Throughout Mark’s Passion, Jesus has been left by those who should be the most trusting and faithful. I argue that it starts with Palm Sunday and the crowd (that has been following him throughout the region) leaving him before he arrives at the temple (11:11). Then the disciples flee after his arrest, including the certain disciple who flees naked (14:50-52). Then Peter denies him three times (14:66-72). And now, the final group of women that have been with him through it all and even stayed during the crucifixion and watch, fled because they were afraid (16:8).
We want to ease this tension. And so, we want to say, they fled in great awe or they fled with purpose. But that’s not exactly what’s being set up here by Mark. Mark is trying to inspire the audience (us) with a sense of urgency.
The Messianic Secret Reversal
Throughout all of Mark, whenever there is a healing or exorcism, Jesus commands the person to not say anything about it. But what does the person do? Immediately go and tell everyone about it! This is the great Messianic Secret. And all of the theological points around it are good. For example, Jesus hadn’t been crucified, so they couldn’t know what being the Messiah really meant. Or Jesus needed more time and couldn’t risk being arrested (like John the Baptist) too early. Or Jesus wanted them to focus on the restoration of community rather than the individual healings themselves.
But no matter what Jesus said or how they said it, the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ and his works of healing and love could not be contained. Time and time and time again this happens in the Gospel of Mark.
And now here, after the crucifixion, after the resurrection, and with a Divine proclamation to “Go and tell!” the women are silent, and they flee. Willi Marxsen describes this as the Messianic Secret Reversal, and it is for the purpose of evangelism.[1]
Markan Context
The greatest threat to the Gospel, the Good News, in the Markan context, was fear.
Scholars debate whether Mark was written in the late 60s or early 70s, but it feels more likely to me that it is immediately after the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. There is fear. Everywhere. Christians and Jews are terrified of the Roman Empire and their violence. There is tension and discord between the early Church and Jewish communities. Nero had just persecuted Christians on and off for the last 5-10 years.
What is the greatest threat to the proclamation of the Gospel? Fear.
“Go and Tell”
As the audience listening to this captivating narrative, there is a cliffhanger ending. The young man in the white robe (presumably an angel although never specified) has just commanded the women to “Go and tell!”
**Nerd moment connection to last week. The young man says, “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee.” Jesus is always ahead, and the position of discipleship is always following (even after the resurrection).
We expect the women to then Go and Tell! That’s what we do with the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s what this whole Gospel has been about.
But instead, we hear, “So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”
Who will go and tell the story then? Who will tell this most important, this life-giving, this tremendous Good News story?
Preaching Possibilities
Do it Scared
There are a lot of folks who have been attributed to this phrase, “Do it Scared” and so I don’t want to misattribute it. But the idea is that courage is not the practice of eliminating our fears. Courage is the practice of not allowing our fears to prevent us for doing what we need to do or prevent us from living our full life. And so, we do it scared.
We are not 1st century Christians facing persecution. Mark wrote this ending for them and that level of fear. And yet, we can still connect with this today. I know there are so many folks in our pews who are afraid of “evangelizing.” We are scared of sharing the “Good News” because of how it will make people think about us (Are we one of THOSE Christians?). We are scared because we don’t know scripture or theology as well as we’d like and we’re afraid that we’ll get it wrong. We’re scared because the Church doesn’t fully reflect the values and inclusivity that we’d like to see, and we don’t want to evangelize before the Church is ready. We’re scared because we have doubts about our faith. And if we have doubts, how could we really say that we believe?
I don’t think there’s a better Gospel to talk about fear and evangelism. It comes up in every Gospel, but Mark is intentionally sitting in this space. We aren’t supposed to brush this away. We can lean into this tension. While it is a day of great joy, it is also a reminder that we are called to share this story and not remain silent.
The Promise
The women fled because they were afraid. And yet, we’re coming to Church this Sunday to talk about the Resurrection. Do we think they stayed silent? No, they went to Galilee, and they told the others what they saw. The Good News of Jesus Christ, the resurrection and love of our God, are too big to contain. The story always has to get out and keep going. We know that the women at the tomb go on to share their story. All three of the other Gospels ensure that we know that truth. The story will get out. But can we be instruments of that work too? Will we also share the Good News of Jesus Christ?
[1] Willi Marxsen, Mark the Evangelist, 91,111-116.
Micah Krey 
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