DAY 27 – COUNTING TO ASCENSION

A LOOSE END IN THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS

Reading for today:
Mark 16:9-20 

The NIV states, “The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have these verses.”

The ESV states, “Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include Mark 16:9-20.” Then in its footnote says, “Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include 9-20 immediately after verse 8. A few manuscripts insert additional material after verse 14; one Latin manuscript adds after verse 8 the following: ‘But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.’ Other manuscripts include this same wording after verse 8, then continue with verses 9-20.”

No one ever told me that kind of stuff growing up. It needs to be addressed. We were told that absolutely every word in the Bible is absolute truth – that they are God’s words and that anyone who adds to them or takes away from them is in danger.  But I wasn’t told about the process of choosing which books were Canon – or even that there were passages that were in question.  I was an adult before I learned that there were many writings that were not considered worthy to be in our Bible, and that the Catholic Bible has some books my Protestant Bible does not have. 

It does not challenge my faith that every single word of the Bible as we know it may not be identical to what was originally written. What matters to me is that the themes of the Bible are clear. No matter how many men have been involved in its transmission down through the thousands of years it represents, the truth of God’s divine nature and sovereignty are still intact. That the Messiah was promised and came is intact.  The first century secular historian Josephus even wrote about Jesus the Messiah being a wise teacher who was crucified by Pilate. 

And – what I pay attention to in verses like these from Mark 16:9-20 is that if it is the only place something is mentioned, I probably shouldn’t put too much stock in it! i.e., I wouldn’t be comfortable with attending a church that considered handling snakes or drinking poison to be a valid part of worship. Like Paul when he was bitten by a snake, I know the Lord can override nature – but I wouldn’t want to use that as the test of my faith in His providence. 

The Bible interprets the Bible. The important themes of the Bible run through it in such apparent fashion, that there is no mistaking God’s interaction with and love for his created. Major messages are repeated more than once. If we lost this portion of Mark, we would have lost nothing vital to our faith. All of the important segments of these verses are reiterated elsewhere. And the dangerous parts – well, they’re dangerous – and not repeated anywhere!

 The Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament. The Law is a mirror showing us we can’t capably live life for God without His help – or receive His forgiveness without a blood sacrifice – and that forgiveness came through the shed blood of his only begotten Son. 

Eternity is beyond our grasp to understand, but we place our trust and our lives into the hands of the one who is Eternal, and His Word is secure. 

So, while there are people who adamantly state that every word of the Bible as we hold it in our hands is true. I would modify that statement to say: The major concepts are true. The God of all creation is True. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah and is the Way, the Truth and the Life – and no one comes to the Father except by/through him. But every now and again, if something seems confusing or out of sequence, I can remember that lots of scribes writing by hand for centuries had opportunity to make a minor error here or there that could alter meaning slightly – and it is only rare that we can point to any passage where that might be suspect. This, however, is one of the few. 

I believe the Bible is God’s Word. I believe the accounts it tells of people’s lives are true accounts. If it says it is a parable, I know it is only a story…. I am literal – and for the occasional 'if it happens' this one facet of this passage raises questions – a red flag, if you will. Then when I read footnotes that tell me it wasn't in many of the early manuscripts –  and that the language used here is different than any where else in this gospel – it definitely makes it suspect. 

It certainly doesn’t say we should do these things. I just think it should be read with caution, considering this part may have been added by an unreliable messenger….


I also think we need to address the tough stuff – and that certainly is!


Footnote 5/12/2017:
2 Timothy 3:16  states, “All scripture is breathed by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 


It is important to remember that what was referenced as Scripture at that juncture was only what we know as the Old Testament, with special emphasis on the Law and the Prophets and some other selected writings.  The New Testament had not been written yet.