Study Desk

And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.

When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means "Place of the Skull").

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece.

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "Ha! Look at you now!" they yelled at him. "You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days.

The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself!

They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus' body.

But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. [The most ancient manuscripts of Mark conclude with verse 16:8. Later manuscripts add one or both of the following endings.] [Shorter Ending of Mark] Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.

But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn't believe her.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.

They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."

And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.