Group Guide: Mark 16:1-11

Mark chapter 16 gives us a narrative account of what happened on Sunday after Jesus died. In this passage, we discover three women making their way early in the morning to the tomb in which the body of Jesus had been laid and sealed with a large stone. Their mission was an unpleasant one. They were going there to anoint the body for final burial properly. As they traveled, they pondered how they might move the large stone that sealed the tomb.

Mary Magdalene, who was from Magdala, was one of the women in the group. Mary’s life had been radically changed because of Jesus. She had found in Jesus what most people honestly never find, even though they spend their lives looking yearning for it.

First, she found acceptance. Women were simply not valued in the first-century Roman or Jewish culture. Jewish men would pray and thank God daily they He did not create them as a woman. However, Jesus accepted Mary and gave her worth and value. Her acceptance by Jesus did not depend on what she looked like, her family background, her accomplishments or achievements in life, or anything else she might “bring to the table”. Jesus accepted her because she had been fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Jesus taught that His Kingdom was not for the well-to-do, the proud, or the self-righteous. His Kingdom would be made up of the poor in spirit, those who mourned. Jesus accepted people that no one else would, destroying social pride and prejudice.

Second, Mary had found forgiveness in Jesus. Luke 8 tells us that Jesus had healed and cleansed her of 7 demons.There can be little doubt that these demons had held her captive by all sorts of sin and rebellion against God. Mary surly struggled with the guilt and shame of her sinfulness. Yet, she had found forgiveness and reconciliation with Jesus. Mary had been set free from the bondage of sin and no longer had to deal with the guilt and condemnation sin brings. The forgiveness that Jesus gave reconciled Mary to God.

Finally, Mary had found hope for the future in the person of Jesus. She believed that He was a King and would usher in a future glorious kingdom unlike anything else. She was familiar with the promises Jesus made about what was to come and the glory that would ultimately be revealed. She had come to believe that the best was yet to come.

But with the death of Jesus, Mary had lost all hope. The one that accepted her, forgave her, and promised a future hope had died. All of Mary’s hopes had died on the cross when Jesus died. But all of that was about to change.Jesus was no longer dead. He was alive, and it was Mary of Magdalene to whom he appeared to first. Mary’s hope was restored, her life was secure in His love and forgiveness, and so is everyone who puts trust in the risen Savior.

Acceptance, forgiveness, and hope for the future can only be found in Christ.