Mark 16 : Easy-to-Read Version
News that Jesus Has Risen from Death
16 1The next day after the Sabbath day,* Mary from Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought some sweet-smelling spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body. 2Very early on that day, the first day of the week, the women were going to the tomb.* It was very early after sunrise. 3The women said to each other, "There is a large stone covering the entrance of the tomb. Who will move the stone for us?" 4Then the women looked and saw that the stone was moved. The stone was very large, but it was moved away from the entrance. 5The women walked into the tomb.* They saw a young man there wearing a white robe. The man was sitting on the right side of the tomb. The women were afraid. 6But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one that was killed on a cross. He has risen from death! He is not here. Look, here is the place they put him when he was dead. 7Now go and tell his followers. And [be sure to] tell Peter. Tell them, 'Jesus is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there like he told you before.'" 8The women were very afraid and confused. They left the tomb* and ran away. The women did not tell about what happened, because they were afraid. Some of the oldest Greek copies of Mark end the book here.]
Some Followers See Jesus
9Jesus rose from death early on the first day of the week. Jesus showed himself first to Mary from Magdala. One time in the past, Jesus had forced seven demons* to leave Mary. 10After Mary saw Jesus, she went and told his followers. His followers were very sad and were crying. 11But Mary told them that Jesus was alive. Mary said that she had seen Jesus. But the followers did not believe her. 12Later, Jesus showed himself to two followers while they were walking in the country. But Jesus did not look the same as before he was killed. 13These followers went back to the other followers and told them what happened. Again, the followers did not believe them.
Jesus Talks to the Apostles
14Later Jesus showed himself to the eleven followers while they were eating. Jesus criticized the followers because they had little faith. They were stubborn and refused to believe the people that said Jesus had risen from death. 15Jesus said to the followers, "Go everywhere in the world. Tell the Good News* to every person. 16Any person that believes and is baptized* will be saved. But the person that does not believe will be judged guilty. 17And the people that believe will be able to do these things as proof: They will use my name to force demons* out of people. They will speak in languages they never learned. 18Those people will hold snakes without being hurt. And those people will drink poison without being hurt. Those people will touch sick people, and the sick people will be healed."
Jesus Goes Back to Heaven
19After the Lord Jesus said these things to the followers, he was carried up into heaven. There, Jesus sat at the right side of God. 20The followers went everywhere in the world and told the Good News* to people. And the Lord helped them. The Lord proved that the Good News they told people was true. He proved this by giving the followers power to do miracles.*
Sabbath day The seventh day of the Jewish week. It was a special religious day for the Jews. tomb A grave dug in a wall of rock. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. baptized A Greek word meaning to be immersed, dipped, or buried briefly under water. miracle(s) Amazing works done by God's power.