Mark’s narrative of the resurrection has long puzzled many interpreters. After witnessing the most glorious and significant event in the course of human history, the women who came to anoint Jesus’ body “went out and fled from the tomb” because they were “trembling and bewildered” and they “said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” (Mark 16:8). This was hardly a proper ending to the Gospel! Or, was it?

One of the interesting literary patterns employed by Mark is the “command to silence” motif. Throughout the Gospel, we read frequently that Jesus did not permit people to tell others about himself or the miracles He did (Mark 1:34, 44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26, 30; 9:9). Jesus knew that the crowd would make Him their political king (John 6:15). This was contrary to His mission on earth, which was to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Because of this, He commanded people not to tell others about Him, at least not until He had risen from the dead (9:9).

But after the resurrection, Jesus’ followers were commanded to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:18–20). Yet, Mark never tells us whether the women eventually overcame their fear and went to tell the others about Jesus’ resurrection. Many readers who have been following Mark’s narrative would be left wondering, “Did they go?”

This may well have been the point of Mark’s omission of the women’s response! As readers ask this question of the women, the gospel also invites us to ask this question of ourselves. Have we gone? Have we been faithfully proclaiming this glorious gospel of Jesus Christ who died, rose, and will come again? As the ascended Jesus is the same Jesus who will come again (Acts 1:10–11), may we have the courage to go and tell this good news to those who need to hear it.