Having not thought, obviously, that there was a big rock in the way. I suppose grief does that to people. Still, it does seem just a little strange.
vs 2
I suppose you would want to do it early, before the crowds (on the street, not at the tomb).
vs 3
They do ask the question, but not until they're almost there. This is what gets me. Perhaps moving the stone is not as difficult as one thinks - maybe they just thought they'd bring some men, and forgot.
vs 4
Someone had beat them to it?
vs 5
After all, he could have been a ghost, or a really well-dressed graverobber.
vs 6
That's not fantastically comforting, either. Did someone steal the body?
vs 7
Without this message, it could have been an invasion of body snatchers. But the angel is telling them Jesus is alive, and is going to see them and talk to them. A huge claim.
vs 8
This is a crazy ending to this book. It ends with the women not telling anyone - which of course, they must have eventually, or else how was the book written? Or was it written by one of the women? Nah, that's silly talk. Perhaps Jesus told them later? Could be. Still, the book just seems to go nowhere with this ending. Apparently books did this back in the day. But someone decided to stick on a few extra verses at some point in time.
vs 9
So after the women ran away, he appeared to one of them first? That is just extraordinary. Not Peter, not John... Mary Magdelene.
vs 10
So they didn't tell anyone about the empty grave... but then when he appears, it's time to spill.
vs 11
Unsurprisingly.
vs 12
A precis of the road to Emmaus, I assume.
vs 13
And again, more disbelief. You would think people would at least start to ask questions now.
vs 14
My oath. I mean, sure, I wouldn't have believed them either, but hey!
vs 15
Again, a pretty good summary of what he said in Matthew.
vs 16
Ouch. The condemnation bit is newly added, I think (from the Matthew type bit I mean). It's a fairly succinct and clear reminder, though, of what we're all playing for.
vs 17
Interesting that signs become part of the equation too.
vs 18
Is this the only bit that speaks of the snake thing? I wonder. Looks to me like it is. Hardly worth starting a snake handling cult over really. But it raises the question that if Jesus said this, why did he say it, and if he didn't, why add it in? Very strange indeed.
vs 19
Ascension summary, nothing wrong with adding that in. It's in the creed, I believe, so why not? Makes for a well rounded out gospel.
vs 20
See, that seems a far more well rounded and befitting end to this gospel. It might not be kosher, but at least it gives closure. Verse 8 is scarily abrupt in comparison. Apart from verse 18, I don't really have any problems with it - it's all attested to elsewhere.
