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The narrative in Mark seems to have behind it the training of the twelve; in the book
from which the prophecy of Mark is quoted, namely Isaiah, the disciples would have read
of a ministry to be exercised by the Servant of God--now they SEE IT LIVED OUT
under their very eyes; there they would have read the passages containing, I suppose, the
fullest setting forth of Messiah in the Old Testament, now they are in daily contact with
One Whose very living amongst them draws from them (one being spokesman for the
rest) `THOU art the Messiah' and immediately (8: 29, 31) He began to teach them
concerning His suffering, as if He would lead them on from Isa. 40:-42: to 52: 13-53
(compare Isa. 53: 1 and Mark 8: 27), while the whole gospel ends with His quietly
dismissing them FOR SERVICE, but going forth `working with (them)'.
"That they should be WITH Him and that He might send them forth to
preach" (meta Mark 3: 14).
"They went forth and preached . . . . . the Lord working WITH (them)" (sun
Mark 16: 20).
How dependent we are on Him both for equipment and then for performance. There
seem to be two avenues to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus--through the Book and by
companionship with Him. It is possible to know more of the Book than of Him--oh for
commensurate knowledge--`That I may know HIM'. Living, walking, with Him, they
learnt Him to be what the Book says He is and was. Blessed fruitful knowledge. May it
be ours."
A word must be given on the last twelve verses of Mark 16: The R.V. margin reads
"The two oldest Greek manuscripts and some other authorities omit from verse nine to
the end".
Scrivener, one of the foremost authorities in textual criticism wrote:
"The twelve concluding verses of his gospel are still found in every Greek Manuscript
except the two oldest. Cod.B however, betrays consciousness on the scribe's part that
something is left out, inasmuch as after ephobounto gar 5: 8, a whole column is left
perfectly blank (the only blank one in the whole volume), as well as the rest of the column
containing verse 8, which is usual at the end of every book of Scripture."
In the "Companion Bible" Appendix 168, the reader will find a summary of the
controversy, and will observe that Dean Burgon's work is indicated as the basis of the
argument presented.
It lies quite outside the scope of our pages to attempt textual criticism, for if it is not
dealt with exhaustively it is valueless. Those of our readers who are interested can find
all the material necessary for arriving at a sound judgment in the various volumes written
on the question of Textual Criticism, and of Mark 16:, in particular those of Scrivener,
Dean Burgon, Hammond and Gaussen may be cited as authors to be consulted early in
the enquiry. For our own part we are satisfied with the evidence at hand (whether these
last twelve verses be the work of Mark himself, or added by another) that they form a part
of those canonical Scriptures given by inspiration of God which we ignore at our peril.