Feasts in Mark 16
All the New Testament writers use the Bible Matrix. A possible application of the identification of literary structures is the solving of disputes over textual variants. I applied the matrix to Mark 16, where verses 9-20 are considered by many to be a later addition. Guess what?
Creation – Sabbath – Ark – Light
Now when the Sabbath was past,
…..Mary of Magdala,
……….Mary [the mother] of James [deriv. Jacob],
……………and Salome [shalom – peace]
……….bought spices,
…..that they might come
and anoint Him.
Division – Exodus – Veil – Firmament
And very early on the first day of the week,
…..they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
……….And they said among themselves,
…………….“Who (Sabbath)
………………..will roll away (Passover)
…………………….for us (Firstfruits)
…………………………the stone (Pentecost)
…………………….from the door (Trumpets)
………………..of the tomb?” (Atonement)
……………[No Booths]
……….But having looked up,
…..they saw that the stone had been rolled away—
for it was very large.
Ascension – Firstfruits – A Command with a Promise
And entering the tomb, (CREATION)
…..they saw a young man (DIVISION/Hierarchy)
……….clothed in a long white robe (ASCENSION/Aaron)
……….sitting on the right side; (ASCENSION/Melchizedek)
……………and they were alarmed. (TESTING)
……….(MATURITY – RESURRECTION)
……….But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. (Sabbath)
……………You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. (Passover)
………………..He is risen! He is not here. (Firstfruits)
…………………….See the place where they laid Him. (Pentecost)
………………..(Trumpets – Witness)
………………..But go,
…………………….tell His disciples—
…………………………and Peter—
…………………….that He is going before you
………………..into Galilee;
……………there you will see Him, (Atonement)
……….as He said to you.” (Booths)
…..(Conquest)
…..So they went out quickly
……….and fled from the tomb,
……………for they trembled and were amazed.
……….And they said nothing to anyone,
…..for they were afraid.
(No Booths, No Rest)
Testing – Pentecost – The Bridal Spirit
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week,
…..He appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
…..out of whom He had cast seven demons.
……….She went and told those who had been with Him,
……………as they mourned and wept
……….And when they heard that He was alive
……….and had been seen by her,
…..they did not believe.
(No Rest)
Maturity – Trumpets – Two Witnesses
After these things,
…..to two of them as they walked
……….He appeared in another form
……………going into the country.
……….And they went and told it to the rest,
…..but they did not believe them either.
(No Rest)
Conquest – Atonement – Baptism
High Priestly approach #1 -
Bull’s Blood for the Priesthood:
the Testimony of Jesus
Later as they reclined at the table; (Sabbath)
…..He appeared to the eleven (Passover/Hierarchy)
……….and He rebuked their unbelief (Firstfruits)
……….and hardness of heart,
……………because the ones having seen Him (Pentecost)
……….arisen from the dead (Trumpets)
…..they did not believe. (Oath/Sanctions)
(No Rest)
High Priestly approach #2 -
Goat’s Blood for the People:
the Apostolic Witness
And He said to them,
…..“Go into all the world
…..…..and preach the gospel to all the creation.
……….…..He who believes and is baptized will be saved; (Life)
……….…..but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Death)
……….And these signs will follow those who believe:
……….In My name they will cast out demons; (World)
……….they will speak with new tongues; (Land)
……….they will take up serpents; (Garden)
…..and if they drink anything deadly,
…..it will by no means hurt them; (Covenant cup)
they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Glorification – Booths – Succession
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them,
…..He was received up into heaven,
……….and sat down at the right hand of God.
……………And they went out and preached everywhere,
……….the Lord working with them
…..and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.
Amen.
Well, there you have it. If you want to dispute this process, I’m confident enough in it now to rebuke your unbelief and tell you bluntly that you don’t know what you’re talking about. ; )
If none of this “architecture” makes sense, I recommend you read Bible Matrix I and II.
