⁹ Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹ And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved. ¹² And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. ¹³ And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them. ¹⁴ And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ¹⁹ So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

Our lectionary faithfully goes on to recount the resurrection appearances, whose manuscript support is not strong. This can be my cue to say thank-you to everyone who has read through Mark with me. There haven’t been many comments added, though I know there were some of you reading silently out there.

It’s back to a full diary now for me, and so for the time being at least this Bible Study Blog will be going on ice. If any of you feel like taking it over for a while just say and I’ll be delighted to help set you up. And I hope we can find other ways in the future to keep on studying the scriptures together.

¹ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. ³ And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? ⁴ and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. ⁵ And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed.⁶ And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁸ And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.

Mark does not draw attention to the day’s pause between the burial and anointing: Holy Saturday, a day of strange emptiness, as if heaven was holding its breath. Then – amazement. There is no domesticating resurrection. They do not look and say “Oh I see, he is risen”. They are amazed. Even the patient explanation of the young man/angel just leaves them trembling with astonishment and fear. This is so not the carefully programmed writing of some of the birth narratives where – whatever the actual historic basis – certainly what we read is well stage-managed. This is raw – and the rawness itself is good evidence for the reality of the experience. Did the Gospel originally end here, so raw? I like to think so: it appeals to the modern mind, and strangely echoes Mark himself (if it was he) running away from the arrest naked. We are simply left to make up our mind.

⁴² And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, ⁴³ there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. ⁴⁵ And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Into the middle of the tragedy walks ‘a councillor of honorable estate’. NIV has ‘a prominent member of the council’ which is less quaint, but I love the way in which a character who comes across like someone from Toytown, or Middle England anyway, now becomes God’s agent in helping history make the most amazing of all leaps from the death of the Cross to the life of Resurrection – from the gruesomeness of Pilate marvelling that Christ was dead so soon (after ‘only’ six hours on the cross) to the marvel which will follow. But for now, the stone is rolled shut against our vision and our understanding, and with the women we wait.

³³ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ³⁵ And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah. ³⁶ And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down. ³⁷ And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. ³⁸ And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. ⁴⁰ And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; ⁴¹ who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women that came up with him unto Jerusalem.

How do we read the cry of desertion, which for Mark are Jesus’ last words. Does it mock my hope, just as the soldiers mocked Christ? I can easily rationalise it: take the first words of Psalm 22 to stand for the whole psalm, with its final hope as well initial despairing enquiry. But that sounds too glib. I suspect we have to let our hope be hung out to dry: that is what makes it hope, not certainty. Strangely, I find some comfort in the last couple of verses (which Mark expands): even, perhaps especially, in the face of such tragedy, the women minister to him.

¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. ¹⁷ And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him; ¹⁸ and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! ¹⁹ And they smote his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him. ²¹ And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. ²² And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. ²³ And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. ²⁴ And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. ²⁵ And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. ²⁶ And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁷ And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. ²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors. ²⁹ And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ save thyself, and come down from the cross. ³¹ In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.

Humanly, it is hard to believe that Jesus, as he as led to the Cross, did not share the desire of Queen’s great anthem “I want to break free” which so captures the ambiguity of how we experience love and freedom, self and relationships. But in the old motto, it was love that held Christ to the Cross: he doesn’t break the love that binds the Godhead together despite carrying the weight of human life on his back. And that gives me hope in a way that nothing else can. How ironic that he is taunted to come down from the cross so that we might believe!

¹ And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. ² And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest. ³ And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. ⁵ But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled. ⁶ Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. ⁷ And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸ And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. ⁹ And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ¹⁰ For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. ¹² And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ¹³ And they cried out again, Crucify him. ¹⁴ And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him. ¹⁵ And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

It does feel strange to having Holy Week, as it were, in the middle of October. Perhaps that is good for me. Meditation on the Cross and Passion is not a once-a-year activity, nor should our spirituality be steered only by the liturgical year.

‘Jesus Bound’ would probably be my title for the passage. W H Vanstone’s book The Stature of Waiting has meant a lot to me, and especially his key observation in it that Jesus’ ministry move from action to passion. The designs of others, circumstances, political pragmatism, even it seems God’s will, bind him; and so boundness becomes the gateway to freedom.

⁶⁶ And as Peter was beneath in the court, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest; ⁶⁷ and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and saith, Thou also wast with the Nazarene, even Jesus. ⁶⁸ But he denied, saying, I neither know, nor understand what thou sayest: and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. ⁶⁹ And the maid saw him, and began again to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. ⁷⁰ But he again denied it. And after a little while again they that stood by said to Peter, of a truth thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilaean. ⁷¹ But he began to curse, and to swear, I know not this man of whom ye speak. ⁷² And straightway the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

The three-fold shape of Peter’s denial is the story-teller’s way of rubbing it in, making sure we don’t miss it. The scary bit for me is that at the third time of asking, Peter begins to curse and swear. “Call down curses on himself” says the NIV. This is not just bad language, but a door opened to the dark. How easily that could have simply been the end for Peter. How amazing the grace of God which brings him back. The cross, a curse in itself, is the place where all curses are broken, and the inevitabilities of evil are interrupted.

⁵³ And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. ⁵⁴ And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not. ⁵⁶ For many bare false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together. ⁵⁷ And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁸ We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. ⁵⁹ And not even so did their witness agree together. ⁶⁰ And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ⁶¹ But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ⁶² And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. ⁶³ And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses? ⁶⁴ Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death. ⁶⁵ And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

Now Jesus stands alone, becoming almost monosyllabic too. I’m not very good at ‘holding my piece’ and often come back from meetings or conversations wondering why I had to say all I did. And a whole lot of TV just seems noise to fill the schedules, I’m afraid. Perhaps silence, passivity, passion is a pretty scary place to be. Perhaps with reason …

⁴³ And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely. ⁴⁵ And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, Rabbi; and kissed him. ⁴⁶ And they laid hands on him, and took him. ⁴⁷ But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. ⁴⁸ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves to seize me? ⁴⁹ I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled. ⁵⁰ And they all left him, and fled. ⁵¹ And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they lay hold on him; ⁵² but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked.

Now the action comes, it comes apace. One disciples lashes out – the story is not completed here: it is left as a futile and inappropriate gesture. Then they all flee – with the tantalising reference to the young man, which we usually read of course as Mark’s own story, told in a way against himself. If Mark was writing up Peter’s memories I can almost imagine Peter (having bared his own soul of betrayal) making sure that Mark did not forget his own moment… All that is speculation, but it opens the door perhaps to a scene which can well be used for an Ignatian meditation, putting ourselves in the picture, wondering what we would have said and done.

³² And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I pray. ³³ And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled. ³⁴ And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch. ³⁵ And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. ³⁶ And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt. ³⁷ And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. ³⁹ And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. ⁴¹ And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

What on earth can one say? We see all too clearly the limits of our discipleship. We don’t even get to the point of heroic struggle – we just crash out. How sympathetic Jesus’ reaction is the frailness of our flesh, while he goes through the eye of the needle and accepts God’s will, even when that will can not have felt much different from abandonment. Then, suddenly, the time for struggle and waiting and sleeping are all over: the hour is come.