Mark 16: 9-15

Mark 16: 9-15

Observing the boldness of Peter and John

and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,

the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,

and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.

Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,

they could say nothing in reply.

So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,

and conferred with one another, saying,

“What are we to do with these men?

Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign

was done through them, and we cannot deny it.

But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,

let us give them a stern warning

never again to speak to anyone in this name.”

So they called them back

and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,

“Whether it is right in the sight of God

for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.

It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

After threatening them further,

they released them,

finding no way to punish them,

on account of the people who were all praising God

for what had happened.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I rejoice today as I contemplate the great things you have done. I want to proclaim the joy of the Resurrection to every creature. The mystery of your Son’s Resurrection is the great sign that fills me with hope for eternal life with you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Fearless Proclamation of the Gospel: In the Acts of the Apostles, we see how Peter and John proclaimed the Gospel fearlessly. They were bold in their witness because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. Although uneducated in the Law of Moses, they spoke with confidence and authority to those who had dedicated their entire lives to the study of Scripture. The Sanhedrin, in contrast to the disciples, were speechless and unable to explain the remarkable sign of the healing of the man crippled from birth. “The members of the Sanhedrin are befuddled, frustrated, and struggling to limit the damage. Their consultation about Peter and John illustrates the powerlessness of Israel’s old leadership to effectively counter the apostolic leaders of the renewed Israel” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, p. 83).

2. Obeying God: Jesus commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel in his name; the Sanhedrin commanded them not to speak to anyone or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter responded that, in this case, they must obey God rather than the Sanhedrin. It was impossible for them not to speak about what they had seen and heard. They were witnesses to the Resurrection, and their faith in Jesus was not in vain. They received a gift from God and wanted to share that gift with all men and women. Peter spoke of Jesus as the stone rejected by builders and quoted Psalm 118:22. Jesus is the cornerstone and there is salvation in no one else. “When the members of the Sanhedrin saw the boldness of Peter, they were taken aback. What a remarkable change in this man who had been so intimidated by a maid servant that he denied Christ three times!” (Gray, Peter, 143). Peter had been transformed by the gift of the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus and God the Father. “That’s the gift that we must ask for if we are going to be faithful disciples on the journey. Let us pray that we may be strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we, like Peter, can boldly witness the love of Jesus to the world for the salvation of souls” (Gray, Peter, 143-144). 

3. Supernatural Fortitude: “Peter’s frankness is indeed remarkable considering that the leaders to whom he spoke were the very ones who had handed over Jesus for execution not long before and who could easily do the same to him. Peter does not count on protection from such a threat; he knows that some of the apostles will in fact be put to death (cf. Luke 21:16). Yet he is free, and his freedom is undiminished by the danger he faces. Physical dangers cannot touch either the life that comes from the Holy Spirit (cf. Luk 21:18-19) or the gifts that come with it. The apostles’ boldness corresponds to the gift of fortitude, one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which is marked by an invincible confidence in the victory of God’s will in one’s life” (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 62)

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you rebuked your disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart. Help me to overcome my own unbelief and stubbornness and fully embrace the new life of your resurrection.

Living the Word of God: How can I fearlessly proclaim the Gospel to those I meet this upcoming week? Is there someone in particular in my life – a coworker or a family member, perhaps – that needs to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ?