Mark 16:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hearing that Jesus is alive and that Mary has seen him, the disciples do not believe it.
What Does Mark 16:11 Mean?
These are men who heard Jesus foretell his rising three separate times (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). But grief shouts louder than memory, and the testimony of one witness sounds too good to be true. They hear 'alive' and 'seen' — and cannot take it in.
Mark does not flatter the founders of the church. The apostles were not credulous men eager to embrace a resurrection tale; they resisted it, and were persuaded against the grain of their despair — which makes their later boldness all the more weighty. There is comfort in their slowness: Christ does not discard those whose faith comes haltingly. He keeps coming until unbelief runs out of room.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 16:11
What does Mark 16:11 mean?
Hearing that Jesus is alive and that Mary has seen him, the disciples do not believe it.