The Gospel of Mark Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 7: Mark 16

Overview

A youth Bible study on the Gospel of Mark inspired by the Yale Bible Study series.

Practice Duration 30-60 minutes

Lesson developed byJill Olds and Victoria Crooks

Setting the Atmosphere

If in person, set the room with chairs or around a table for a small group conversation
Consider centering the space with a lit candle (unscented for those with sensitivities), or with a simple symbol, such as a cross
Consider having a ball or stuffed animal to throw around the circle, for the person speaking to hold when it is their turn
If virtually, schedule in your preferred video platform

Materials Checklist

Bibles or copies of the scripture
Enough Ice cubes, lemon wedges, lime wedges or similar for the entire group
Paper
Pens
Laptop or media device with the video clip from Blade Runner (YouTube video)

Scripture Focus

Mark 16:1-8, 9-20

Note: It is helpful to note that most older version of this chapter end at verse 8 and that verses 9-20 were likely added later

1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

9Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

12After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

14Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Further Study

Introduction for Leaders

Scripture

Quotations

Practice

Discussion Questions

Gather

Introduction for Leaders

Begin with a check in with members
Open with prayer
Read the scripture together

Engage

Introduction for Leaders

Select the option that best suits your group’s needs:

Exercise Option 1: How Long Can You Hold On?

Have numerous items set up for your youth such as ice cubes, lemon wedges, lime wedges, warheads and other safe items that can be used to “test” how long they can use it.
Let each youth hold an ice cube in their hand one at a time, and time how long they can hold it before it becomes uncomfortable. Reminder not to push them beyond their levels of comfort, that they should stop as soon as they are uncomfortable.
Once they drop the ice cube or want to stop write down the times of each member.
This can be done with eating a lemon/lime wedges, warheads, or other items you have available.
Talk about how it felt to hold onto something uncomfortable, and what happened when they let go/spit it out/etc.

Exercise Option 2:

Watch together this clip, describing the differences among the theatrical release, director’s cut, and final cut of the movie, Blade Runner (YouTube video)

Reflect

Introduction for Leaders

Reflect together on the following questions:

What is it like to consider that the very first Resurrection story that was ever written down ends with “terror,” “amazement,” and with no one sharing the story because they were too afraid? How is that different from what you may remember from the other Gospel stories? [Note: Perhaps a side-by-side comparison would be helpful here.]
Have you ever been too afraid to share the truth about something, but then you did? How did it feel to hold onto it, and then to let it go?
What does the second ending add to the story? How often do we try to smooth over harder things, or prematurely wrap things up?
When you are telling a story, how much do you explain, and how much do you leave up to the imagination? How might that change the reader’s experience of the Gospel narrative, and the viewer’s experience of watching Blade Runner?
In the end, how do you experience this resurrection story?