An interesting idea Andrew.  So do you think the intended reader is meant to associate with the people the women failed to tell rather than the women themselves?

Andrew, I think Mark is unflattering towards the main Jewish figures around Jesus: the disiples (portrayed as dim witted through out), the family of Jesus and people from his home town (6v4), and in the end towards the lack of courage shown by these women. It’s the gentile characters such as the centurion at the crucifixion (15v39) and the woman who annoints Jesus (14v9) that seem to the role models for believers.

So I think the odd ending is part apologetic as to why Jesus was not known of generally in the community of the intended (gentile) readers, and part of a general polemic against Jewish figures as yet another example of what not to do as a follower of Jesus.

So yes, the readers were not meant to identify with the women, but with the people the women didn’t tell (but should have).

Enjoyed your article by the way. Thanks.

Hi Andrew. You’ve made me think hard about Mark’s gospel.  I think you are right in his negative portrayal of the disciples and family of Jesus, but I think I’ll have to part company on his portrayal of these women.

I have two reasons:
1. The thrust of what I am saying is that a comparison with Daniel 7 shows that their response has at least one godly precedent.  Fear and silence. 

2. The women are presented as ones who stood by Jesus.  They looked after him at the crucifixion and burial and to change and paraphrase from elsewhere ‘whenever the gospel is preached, what they did will be told in memory of them.’ (14:9) 

See how the women are mentioned alongside the centurion.

Mark 15:39-41

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.  When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

I’m not sure that I follow John.  I have made nothing of Daniel 7 being at the end of the book.  Maybe I haven’t been clear. 

Verse 28 is at the end of a vision of beasts, the judgment of God and coming of the Son of Man.  I’m suggesting that Daniel’s reaction at the end of his vision bears some similarity to the reaction of the women when they find out the news of the Son of Man.

I think I agree with you John to an extent. 

It is looking at the evidence of the manuscripts that drives you to thinking that Mark ends with verse 8.  This theory just gives a little bit of internal evidence that perhaps might show that this ending makes sense.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Hi Roger.  These are very interesting thoughts.  I wonder if it is important to ask what they are frightened of in each situation.

The thought categories of most of the Scriptures seem to be:
1. don’t be afraid of other things
2. be afraid of God.

In each of those examples they are told not to be afraid of other things.
i. not to be afraid of the storm - but trust in Jesus. (4:40)  They end up being afraid of Jesus rather than the storm (4:41)
ii. not to be afraid of a ghost (6:49).  They ended up being amazed at Jesus.

(in the other examples didn’t have the clear ideas of “faith” and “fear”)

There is another example in Mark which lines up right faith with fear and does not see them as opposites.

Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:33-34)

I think the only fear that is condemned in Mark is fear of dangers.  Fear, awe and wonder seem totally appropriate reactions as long as the fear, awe and wonder is aimed at God.

I don’t think that the women’s reaction at the tomb is a lack of faith - but the normal reaction to seeing the power of God revealed. 

I suppose that’s why I am suggesting that the Daniel case study has some relevance - surely Daniel was not suffering from a lack of faith when he was overwhelmed.