Last Words
The ending of Mark’s gospel feels sudden and weird. “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid” (Mark 16:8). But if we look back through Mark’s gospel, we’ll find that fear has been a regular response to Jesus’ displays of power.
• It’s the response of the disciples when Jesus proves His power over nature by calming a storm (Mark 4:39–41).
• It’s the response of the people when Jesus proves His power over unclean spirits by throwing them into a herd of pigs (Mark 5:15).
• It’s the response of the woman who had bled for twelve years when Jesus healed her and then asked, “Who touched me?” (Mark 5:33).
• It’s the response of the disciples when Jesus walks toward them on the water (Mark 6:49–51).
• It’s the response of Peter, James, and John when they see Jesus suddenly transfigured on a mountaintop and appearing with Moses and Elijah (Mark 9:2–6).
• It’s the response of the disciples when Jesus predicts His death and resurrection for a second time (Mark 9:30–32).
Jesus is the Son of God. In the Old Testament, people knew they couldn’t see God and live, so when God revealed Himself, they were completely terrified. Jesus is the most amazing hero. He’s the Son of Man, who we’ll see one day, coming on the clouds of heaven as the judge of all the earth. But He’s also the most tender, gentle, loving human being ever to have lived.
• He’s the one who touched a man with leprosy and made him clean (Mark 1:41).
• He’s the one who welcomed little children, taking them in His arms and blessing them when His disciples thought that kids weren’t worth His time (Mark 10:13–16).
• He’s the one who recognized the bleeding woman who touched Him as His daughter and who took a dead twelve-year-old girl by the hand and told her in her native language, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41).
• And most importantly of all, He’s the King who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
We don’t know how you feel about Jesus after reading through Mark’s gospel. But hopefully, you’ve got a glimpse of both how loving and how terrifying Jesus is. Hopefully you’ve seen that He’s the mighty King of all the world, but also the one who loves you so much He came to die so you could live.
The resurrected King of all the universe is reaching out in love to you today. If you’ve not yet repented and believed in Him, don’t wait another minute. Throw yourself down at Jesus’ feet, and He will lift you in His mighty arms and say to you, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5) or “Daughter, your faith has healed you” (Mark 5:34).
If you have already put your trust in Jesus, thank Him for His power and His love today, and know He’s got you safe in His arms whatever happens. Hear His words of resurrection life to you today: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).