Easter
The Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Day)
April 5, 2026
Overview & Insights
“He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)
In God’s sovereign plan, suffering also leads to victory, and persecution to vindication. The resurrection of Jesus concludes not just the passion events but the whole Gospel of Mark, and it promises for God’s people that all of our failures will be overturned in Jesus. Structure Mark centers on the women and structures his narrative in a series of collages moving in three successive scenes: (1) Verses 1–4 contrast the women’s desire with the practical barriers, thereby continuing the misunderstanding motif. (2) Verses 5–7 contrast the women’s amazement with the angelic message. Here the angel first rebukes, then corrects, and then commissions the women; the stress is upon the solution to the messianic dilemma (the seeming failure of God’s plan in Jesus): the presence of the risen Lord.
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Commentary
Mark 16 Commentary: Jesus Is Risen, Verse by Verse Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik works through the women at the tomb, the young man's announcement, and Mark's abrupt ending.
Mark 16:1-8 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary sitting with the fear and silence that end Mark's shortest Easter.
Commentary on Mark 16:1-8 - Working Preacher Working Preacher
The exact passage is the RCL Easter Day gospel for Year B, so this Luther Seminary commentary applies directly.
Mark 16 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin
A verse-by-verse study hub with word notes and cross references, including the ending's textual questions.
Mark 16:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators compared side by side on the women bringing spices at dawn.
What Is Loved Is Resurrected, Easter Day (B) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
An Episcopal Sermons That Work homily written for the Year B Easter gospel.
Background & Word Study
Mark 16:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing and Strong's numbers for the opening of the empty-tomb scene.
Gospel of Mark Summary | Watch an Overview Video BibleProject
BibleProject's overview shows how Mark's fast, secretive gospel builds to its stark resurrection ending.
The women at the empty tomb in Mark 16 | Psephizo Psephizo · Ian Paul
Ian Paul's Anglican study of Mark's short ending and why the women flee in fear.
The Church Fathers
Worship & Prayers
Questions preachers ask
How does Mark tell the Resurrection?
At dawn the women bring spices and find the stone rolled back and a young man in white announcing that the crucified Jesus is risen and goes before them to Galilee.
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