16:9 The NIV has supplied "Jesus."The Greek text says, "Now after He had risen."The antecedent of "He"is obviously Jesus, but the lack of this antecedent in the immediately preceding context seems to some interpreters to indicate a major break between verses 8 and 9. Perhaps Mark did not feel he needed to name Jesus since He is the obvious antecedent.418
Mark may have described Mary Magdalene as he did here to explain why she was at the tomb. Jesus' had done a great thing for her, and her love for Him was consequently very great. Perhaps Mark did so to identify her more precisely since she becomes an important figure here for the first time in Mark's Gospel. Mary had returned to the tomb after she had left it (vv. 1-8). Evidently people could not naturally perceive Jesus for who He was unless Jesus revealed Himself to them (cf. Luke 24:16, 31).419
16:10-11 Mary reported to the disciples that she had seen the risen Christ (cf. v. 7). While the rest of the Jews rejoiced, celebrating the Passover season, Jesus' disciples mourned His death. They would not believe Mary's eyewitness testimony. This should encourage other disciples who find that unbelievers will not believe their witness to the resurrection of Jesus.
