Mark 16:1

“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”

This verse is part of the narrative of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It takes place immediately after the Sabbath, which was a day of rest according to Jewish tradition. Let’s examine the key elements of this verse and explore its significance.

Sabbath:The Sabbath was a significant day in Jewish tradition, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It was a day of rest and worship for the Jewish people. In this context, it refers to the day following the crucifixion of Jesus, which would have been a Sabbath day.

Mary Magdalene:Mary Magdalene is mentioned as one of the women who went to the tomb of Jesus. She is often portrayed as a devoted follower of Jesus and played a prominent role in several Gospel accounts, including witnessing the crucifixion and being the first to witness the resurrected Jesus.

Mary, the mother of James:This Mary is believed to be the mother of James the Less, who is mentioned in other Gospel accounts as one of the apostles.

Salome:Salome is another woman mentioned in this verse. She is not mentioned frequently in the Gospel accounts, but she is mentioned as one of the women who witnessed the crucifixion and also went to the tomb.

Sweet spices:The women mentioned in this verse had bought sweet spices with the intention of anointing Jesus’ body. This act was a common Jewish burial custom at that time. It shows their devotion and love for Jesus, as they wanted to honour Him even in His death.

This verse sets the stage for the events that follow, as these women go to the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week, intending to anoint Jesus’ body. Their act of anointing was an expression of their devotion and love for Him.

This passage highlights the faithfulness of these women, who were willing to honour Jesus even after His death. It also foreshadows the glorious event of Jesus’ resurrection, which they were about to witness. The following verses in Mark 16 describe the discovery of the empty tomb and the encounter with the angelic message proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection.

Overall, Mark 16:1 sets the scene for the resurrection account and emphasises the devotion and love of these women for Jesus, as well as their involvement in the pivotal events surrounding His death and resurrection.