Fear's Silence

Fear’s Silence:

“Trembling and bewildered, they went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone for they were afraid indeed.”

The oldest manuscripts don’t contain the questionable ending of vv.9-20 in John Mark’s gospel. Many current translations, like the NIV, have a note inserted, which typically reads something like, “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient documents do not have Mark 16:9-20.”

It appears that years later some well-intending scribe or scholar figured Mark’s ending needed the “tidy bow of closure” rather than the gospel author’s original open ending. That’s why the earliest and most reliable manuscripts do NOT contain vv.9-20.

Why is that important? Beyond the fundamental and critical issue of divine inspiration (2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”) it comes down to style.

When you read books you’ll notice that every author has their own particular manner or style of writing or story telling. Whether you’re thinking about Hemingway, Twain, Steinbeck, Poe, or Dickinson - just as the attuned ear can readily discern between Mozart and Bach, U2 and Coldplay, the Beatles and Oasis, or George Strait and Hank Williams Jr. - the discerning reader can easily identify the distinctions between the gospel writer's style and later inserts and edits.

We’ve already noted that Mark’s gospel is fast moving with an intense sense of urgency. Mark also begins the majority of his chapters with “And…” Your high school English teacher would have a field day with Mark’s gospel, but again it goes back to style. Mark’s story is fast moving, and each new section begins with a conjunction to show its intimate relationship as the extension of all the previous material.

Jesus, the anticipated Messiah/Christ/King, had come just as Isaiah prophesied. He came and healed the sick, made the blind see. All the while He repeatedly told people “don’t tell anyone,” to “keep quiet,” and “say nothing.”

Then we reach chapter 8 and Jesus asks His close circle of friends a couple of profound questions. First, Jesus asks, “Who do people say I am?” The responses vary, but they all basically fall into the category of prophet. Then Jesus brings it home and ask those twelve men, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter bucks up his chest and proclaims with all sincerity, “You are the Christ!” Again we read, “Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Just a few short chapters later (ch.11) Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time. Then Mark packs Jesus’ “Last Supper” with His Disciples, Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, the Disciples’ desertion, and Peter’s denial all into one chapter (14). Jesus is then brought before Pilate, crucified, dies, and is buried all in chapter 15.

All throughout John Mark’s gospel Jesus tells people to be quiet for a couple of profound reasons:

1) Fallen humanity doesn’t want to be ruled. We don’t want King Jesus. Eden proved that when given free will humanity will always choose autonomy, egotism, and personal benefit over love for God and love for others. What humanity wanted from Jesus was for Him to be a paper-king. We want Jesus to deliver us from foreign occupation and oppression, from taxation, from discomfort, from annoying neighbors - and to be appointed as little kings over our own kingdoms. If you don’t think that’s true just look at the internet. Look at any discussion about anything from sports to politics and you’ll see that EVERYONE thinks their opinion tops all others.

2) Jesus is no paper-king. Jesus is one of the eternal members of the eternal, perfect, Holy Trinity. God created humanity -NOT- just for good stuff, but for the superlative stuff! God created us to be in perfect fellowship with our Creator, the one from whom all the best stuff flows! Jesus didn’t want us to simply “profess with our lips that Jesus is LORD,” as Peter did in chapter 8. No, Jesus wants us to RECEIVE the transcendent gift of faith from God. When it is merely words that flow from us then we, like Peter, will disown Him at the first inkling of discomfort or personal loss.

All throughout Mark’s gospel people were profoundly impacted by King Jesus because they had, as Isaiah foretold, been made fully aware of Jesus’ divinity. Those who were poor in sin had done exactly as Isaiah prophesied. Rather than keeping quiet they “proclaimed the year of the LORD’s favor” (Isa 61:2). They did so because they received genuine sight - the gift of faith - from Jesus. They could not keep quiet as the waves and demons had to because they were no longer captives to sin and darkness.

The "insiders," His Disciples, deserted Him. Peter denied Him. The women who went to the tomb and found it empty were overcome with fear and trembling. Mark wrote, “They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid indeed.” Yet those whom Jesus impacted couldn't help but TELL EVERYONE!

Jesus’ true disciples are never those who merely follow Him around playing the part of "religious insider." Jesus’ true disciples are not the ones with the fish on their car but without Jesus in their hearts. Disciples are not the ones sitting at His feet week-in & week-out merely consuming sermons, but who flee at the first sign of trouble, disown Him when convenient, and who are silenced by fear.

Mark wrote his gospel to herald Jesus as Isaiah’s anticipated Messiah/Christ/King. Mark wrote in a fast-moving style so that we would be captivated and on the edge of our seats throughout. Mark wraps up his gospel with Jesus entering Jerusalem, arrested, deserted, denied, crucified, and buried, and with the two people who went to the tomb saying nothing “because they were afraid.”

The author of Genesis shared the gospel of the coming Messiah in 3:15. Isaiah shared the gospel of the coming Messiah throughout the book of Isaiah. Mark shared “the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” but it closes with nobody saying anything to anyone “because they were afraid indeed.”

The only way the Good News of Jesus Christ ever made it into the Bible was because a regular person, just like you and me, refused to desert or deny that gift of faith in God. The only difference between the “Heroes of Faith” and regular folks is that they wouldn’t be ruled by fear and keep silent about what God had revealed.

So what about you?

Are you just spewing words to puff yourself up, like Peter in Mark 8, which have come from your own understanding or mimicking Christian culture? -OR- are you living out the transcendent gift of faith that has come from, and is sourced in, King Jesus - and sharing that Good News with others?

Are you like the deserters, deniers, and fair-weather friends who find the tomb empty and yet “said nothing to anyone because they were afraid?” Or are you like those who could NOT contain the “Messianic Secret” of Jesus’ sovereignty and kingship as God Almighty, and thus becoming a living part of the gospel explosion that forever impacts human history and glorifies God eternally?

Have you surrendered to fear's silence?

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Deut 31:6

Blessings,

Kevin M. Kelley

#KMKelley1968

amostunlikelydisciple.com