Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Mark Chapter 16
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 16:1-8
16:1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. 16:2And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. 16:3And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? 16:4and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. 16:5And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. 16:6And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! 16:7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 16:8And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.
June 26, 1938: Mark 16:1-8
What is represented by the coming of Mary Magdalene and the other women to the tomb of Jesus “very early” in the morning? The women represent the various faculties of the individual soul; their coming early to the tomb, the fact that the soul is first to awake to the truth of resurrection.
What is signified by the errand of the women, to anoint the body of Jesus? It signifies that at this time they did not understand or accept the teaching of Jesus concerning His resurrection. They expected to find His body still in the tomb.
Explain the statement about the “exceeding great” stone across the door of the tomb. The stone represents the weight of the race belief in mortality as the fate of man. from which in sense thought there is no escape. In spiritual consciousness this stone is rolled away.
What is “resurrection” in a universal sense? It is the raising of mind and body from sense consciousness to spiritual consciousness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
What does the “young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe,” represent? He represents the principles of affirmation and denial as a power strong enough to raise the body to new life.
What is the first affirmation or denial needed to meet the thought of death? Denial of fear is the first need. “Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus ... he is risen; he is not here.” The thought of life supplants the fear of death.
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter.” Why is Peter singled out for special mention in this message? Self-condemnation because he had denied his Master made Peter feel that he was no longer a disciple. The individual message reassured him. Metaphysically Peter represents faith, which had been put to a severe test in all the disciples by the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. It was now restored.
June 19, 1949: Mark 16:2-7
What part of the individual first becomes aware of the resurrection of the Christ? The soul or consciousness, including feelings and emotions. A ray of light penetrates the soul as it perceives that love, which is of God, must abide. “They come to the tomb when the sun was risen.”
Is the message of the Resurrection clear and understandable to the soul? No. Death has so long been accepted as a finality that before it the soul still feels helpless to realize its hopes. “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?”
What gives the soul power to overcome its sense of helplessness in the face of death? Exaltation of feeling induced by thought of the Christ. “Looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back.” Until we look up to God in full faith and contemplate life as infinite and love as unchanging, we face death with a sense of desolation and loss. The stone “was exceeding great.”
What is the strongest impression made on the soul by the perception that life is not powerless in the face of death? It is one of surprised relief that it can penetrate the secrets of death (enter the tomb).
What is represented by the “young man sitting on the right side” in the tomb and wearing a white robe? The “young man” represents a manifestation of the principle of denial and affirmation as a power strong enough to raise the body to renewed consciousness of life. The white robe is the garment of Truth.
Why do we first need denial and affirmation, when we face a crisis involving life or death? To rid ourselves of fear. Be not amazed, we are never beyond the range of the Christ power. We should bear ourselves with calmness and confidence.
“Jesus ... is risen.” What is the significance of these words? The Christ life is a dynamic, not a static, experience. The body is to be transformed, regenerated by the Spirit. Jesus did not remain in “the place where they laid him” but went before the disciples “into Galilee,” the high consciousness of life that He called “the kingdom of the heavens.”
March 25, 1951: Mark 16:1-7
What is represented by the coming of Mary Magdalene and the other women to the tomb of Jesus “very early” in the morning? The women represent the various faculties of the individual soul; their coming early to the tomb represents the fact that the soul is first to awake to the truth of resurrection.
Explain the statement about the “exceeding great” stone across the door of the tomb. The stone represents the weight of the race belief in death as the eventual fate of man, from which the race believes there is no escape. In spiritual consciousness this stone is “rolled back.”
Was the resurrection of Jesus Christ the result of the outworking of divine law? Yes. Jesus Christ perfectly understood and fulfilled the divine law of life. Through His understanding He so filled the cells of His body with the consciousness of perfect, eternal life that He was able to raise it up after it had undergone physical death.
What significance does the Resurrection have for us? The resurrection of Jesus Christ is for us a perfect example of the truth that life does not end with physical death. It also demonstrates for us the result that follows upon perfect obedience to the divine law, namely the last enemy, death is overcome. “The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.”
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 16:9-11
16:9Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 16:10She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 16:11And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.
June 18, 1933: Mark 16:1-11
Those who came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint Him were exclusively women. What does this signify? The women represent the human soul with its affections centered on personality, which includes the body. They expected to find the body in the tomb.
“Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the, tomb?” Spiritual consciousness.
“And looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back.” When the consciousness is lifted up, material conditions and obstacles are rolled away.
What is represented by the young man waiting on the right side, arrayed in a robe? The young man represents the thought projected into the ether by Jesus. The right side represents power, and the white robe, purity.
What was the proclamation of this youthful one? “Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here.”
What is the meaning of the command of the man in white that the women carry the message to the disciples and Peter that Jesus would go before them into Galilee? Galilee represents the new race consciousness of life activity which Jesus gave to the human family. The disciples and Peter represent the quickened faculties through which the affections (women) see Jesus as the spiritualized I AM. Faith (represented by Peter) receives special emphasis.
Why were the women so disconcerted by the message? Their whole thought had been turned from personal love and attachment to the spiritual realm, and they had not yet attained understanding of the great demonstration made by Jesus over death.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 16:12-13
16:12And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. 16:13And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 16:14-18
16:14And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. 16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16:16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. 16:17And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 16:18they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
April 20, 1924: Mark 16:1-15
What is the cause of the separation of mind (or soul) and body, called death? Mind action, called thinking, directs and controls the elemental forces of the body. When one's thoughts are out of harmony with divine law, cross currents are set up. In the Scripture this is called sin, which results in death: “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
How may mind and body be restored to harmony and to perpetual health? When we have harmonized our thoughts with Divine Mind, that is, kept the commandments of Jehovah, we are restored to our original estate, and the last enemy, death, is overcome. “The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.” “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?”
Has anyone ever been able to eliminate sin and to make unity with Divine Mind to the measure that his body was fully restored and eternal life was established in it? Yes. Jesus Christ overcame all the sins of the flesh, saved his body from the tomb, and raised it to eternal life.
Where can we find a historical symbolical account of the final act in the body resurrection? Today's lesson gives certain incidents attending the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion.
Do Christian metaphysicians believe that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was a miracle, or do they understand that it was the result of the outworking of divine law? Christian metaphysicians are applying the law as taught by Jesus. Through faith and understanding they are overcoming many of the ills of mind and body, and they know by analogy that the final demonstration of the law will be perfect health, that is, continuous life in these bodies spiritualized.
When all the bodily functions are acting perfectly under the guidance of Divine Mind, will the body ever grow old and feeble, and will it die? No. The body, under perfect mind action, constantly grows younger, more intelligent, strong, and more beautiful.
When we shall have attained perfect obedience to divine law under the guidance of Divine Mind, will our bodies still be visible to the eye of flesh? Under the divine law our bodies will take on a much higher degree of energy; the cells will vibrate so rapidly that the fleshly eye will not be able to see them, but they will be perfectly visible to those who see spiritually.
Did Jesus leave the earth, when he resurrected his body temple? No, Jesus did not leave the earth, but he did leave the consciousness of material conditions which men call the earth. He is still in our midst in his eternal body; he dwells in another form as described in verse 12: “And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.”
Have we reliable authority for the statement that Jesus has been seen since his resurrection? Yes. In verse 14 of our lesson today we are told: “And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.” Also in I Corinthians 15:6 Paul says: “then he appeared to about five hundred brethren at once, . . . then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also.” This testimony, in addition to the thousands who see him in this day, should be proof sufficient to convince even the most skeptical that Jesus is alive today, and in our midst.
June 26, 1938: Mark 16:14-16
What is the import of the command “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation”? “All the world” embraces man's whole consciousness, mind, soul, and body. The entire man is to be transformed by realizing the truth of resurrection.
June 30, 1946: Mark 16:15-16
What is meant metaphysically by the commandment “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation”? The metaphysical interpretation is that we are to bring the good news of Truth into every department of our being, spirit, soul, and body, as well as into the life of the world.
How did the disciples begin their work? With prayer and preaching. Jesus had opened their mind to the truth as presented in the Scriptures, and after long-continued prayer in unity of spirit had brought the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon them, they preached everywhere. After the faculties of the mind are baptized by the Holy Spirit, they begin the work of restoring and renewing of the whole man.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 16:19-20
16:19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 16:20And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
April 8, 1928: Mark 16:19-20
How do we reconcile the statement in verse 19 (“the Lord Jesus was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God”) with the statement in verse 20 (“they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word by the signs that followed”)? In the words, “the Lord Jesus was received up into heaven,” the writer of this gospel evidently meant the ascension, of Jesus’ body to the fourth dimension, or where His body exists to this day. In no other way can we reconcile the statements that the Lord was working with them and that He confirmed “the word by the signs that followed.” He spoke to Paul out of the heavens, and many have testified that they have felt, heard, and seen Jesus since that time.
June 26, 1938: Mark 16:19-20
How is the word confirmed by the signs that follow? The signs that follow faithful thinking and speaking in conformity with the divine law prove the course thus outlined to be the true way of life.
June 21, 1942: Mark 16:14-20
What has baptism to do with salvation? Baptism represents denial, and it is necessary to deny that error has any power over us before we can be saved from the effects on mind and body of our former acceptance of error as true and unavoidable.
Who condemns the disbeliever? His disbelief condemns him to suffer the effects of his faith in negation.
What are the signs of faith in the Christ and in eternal life? Constructive faith makes itself manifest in calm, strong confidence in the power of the good and in reliance on this power at all times. The man of faith goes steadily forward, his faculties quickened to their highest usefulness in all his undertakings, his powers coordinated so that he radiates health, helpfulness, poise, strength, good will, wisdom, and reverence.
June 30, 1946: Mark 16:19-20
Why is Jesus represented as seated at the right hand of God? Symbolically this means that the Christ is the indispensable power or authority that avails to consummate our desire and efforts to unite with God in order to realize our true nature and being.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-23-2014
