Mark 15:40 - 16:8
Three Women at the Tomb
What They Saw (vv. 15:40-47)
What They Heard (vv. 16:1-6)
What Did They Believe? (vv. 16:7-8)
Discussion Questions
Read Mark 15:40-16:8. What do you think is the main point of this passage?
Meditate on Mark 15:40-47 and the horror of death. Do you agree that people largely seek to ignore the reality of death? If so, what are the most common ways our world seeks to distract itself from the reality of death?
Meditate on Mark 16:1-3. The Jews practiced burial in respect of the physical resurrection at the coming of the Messiah. But it appears that these three women were not expecting the resurrection of Jesus. Do you ever practice religious ritual without a real heart engagement? If so, how? Consider prayers before meals, The Lord’s Supper, singing in church, etc. If so, spend some time praying that God would give you fresh astonishment and amazement in the worship of him.
Consider Mark 16:4-8, John 20:24-29, and John 17:20. Do you sometimes wish that you had more than the testimony of the apostles but actually could see the resurrected Jesus? Why should the work of the Holy Spirit through the testimony of the apostles be enough for us to believe in the resurrection?
Consider the young man in Mark 14:50-52 compared to the young man in Mark 16:5-8. Though this is probably not the same young man in both passages, Mark is intentionally juxtaposing these two young men. One fleeing in fear before the resurrection, the other boldly testifying after the resurrection. This illustrates the transformation that happens when people encounter the resurrected Jesus. Does the transformation that God has brought to people’s lives in the church bear witness to the resurrection? In what way?
How is God calling you to respond to this message on Mark 15:40-16:8?
