Mark 16

16:1-8 Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are not successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, not dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here see the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named, Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and a true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears often hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.

CHAPTER 16Mr 16:1-20. Angelic Announcement to the Women on the First Day of the Week, that Christ Is Risen—His Appearances after His Resurrection—His Ascension—Triumphant Proclamation of His Gospel. ( = Mt 28:1-10, 16-20; Lu 24:1-51; Joh 20:1, 2, 11-29).The Resurrection Announced to the Women (Mr 16:1-8).1. And when the sabbath was past—that is, at sunset of our Saturday.Mary Magdalene—(See on [1522]Lu 8:2).and Mary the mother of James—James the Less (see Mr 15:40).and Salome—the mother of Zebedee's sons (compare Mr 15:40 with Mt 27:56).had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him—The word is simply "bought." But our translators are perhaps right in rendering it here "had bought," since it would appear, from Lu 23:56, that they had purchased them immediately after the Crucifixion, on the Friday evening, during the short interval that remained to them before sunset, when the sabbath rest began; and that they had only deferred using them to anoint the body till the sabbath rest should be over. On this "anointing," see on [1523]Joh 19:40.

"\nAnd very early in the morning, the first day of the week,.... [See comments on Mt 28:1].\n\nThey came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun; of the sun of righteousness, as Mr. Mede observes; or rather, of the natural sun: for though it was dark when they set out, and when it dawned towards the first day, yet by that time that they all got to the sepulchre, the sun was rising; the Jews say {g}, that\n\n"from the ascending of the morning, or break of day, until the sun rises, is an hour and a half.''\n\nAnd so much time may very well be allowed the women, from their setting out, to their coming to the sepulchre. Moreover, they say {h}, that\n\n"from the hind of the morning, to the time the east is enlightened, a man may walk four miles, and from the time that the east is enlightened, \u05e2\u05d3 \u05e9\u05ea\u05e0\u05e5 \u05d4\u05d7\u05de\u05d4, "until the sun rises", four miles.''\n\nBut women must not be thought to walk so fast: let it be observed, that Christ, who is called the hind of the morning, Ps 22:1 (title, "Aijeleth Shahar"), and the morning star, Re 22:16, rose at this time.\n\n{g} Piske Tosaphot in Pesach. art. 44. {h} T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 2. 3. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 50. fol. 45. 2.\n\n\n "

2. And very early in the morning—(See on [1524]Mt 28:1).the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun—not quite literally, but "at earliest dawn"; according to a way of speaking not uncommon, and occurring sometimes in the Old Testament. Thus our Lord rose on the third day; having lain in the grave part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of the following First day.

16:2 At the rising of the sun - They set out while it was yet dark, and came within sight of the sepulchre, for the first time, just as it grew light enough to discern that the stone was rolled away, Matt 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1. But by the time Mary had called Peter and John, and they had viewed the sepulchre, the sun was rising.

"\nAnd they said among themselves,.... Either before they set out, or as they were going along:\n\nwho shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? Which they saw was placed there by Joseph, or his orders: this was the only difficulty they had, that they were aware of; for they seem to know nothing of the sealing of the stone, and of the watch that was set to guard the sepulchre: things which were done on the sabbath day, on which they rested: for had they, in all likelihood they would never have attempted to have gone to it; the guard of soldiers would have been a sufficient discouragement: but all their concern was, how, and by whom, the stone should be rolled away, that lay at the door of the sepulchre; and perhaps their concern might be, not only on account of the largeness of the stone, as being too much for them to remove, but because such a stone defiled by touching it, according to the Jewish traditions {i}.\n\n{i} Misn. Oholot, c. 2. sect 4.\n\n\n "

"\nAnd when they looked,....