The Empty Tomb
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. Mark 16:2 · Berean Standard Bible
Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun is coming up, they head to the tomb.
This is the morning that changed the world. Every Sunday that Christians have gathered for worship traces back to what these women are about to discover.
Mark sets the scene for resurrection morning.
They left while it was still dark because they couldn't wait any longer. The sun is just rising, and they have no idea they're walking into the greatest morning in history.
Very early on the first day of the week (Sunday), at the anateilantos tou heliou (rising of the sun), the women arrive at the mnemeion (tomb).
The timing 'very early' combined with 'just after sunrise' suggests they departed before dawn and arrived at first light. This becomes the foundational day of Christian worship (the Lord's Day).
The narrator marks the precise timing of the women's arrival at the tomb.
The first day of the week dawns, and the faithful women arrive at the tomb. They don't know it yet, but this day will become the most celebrated day in human history.
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
3They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”
4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.
Read all of Mark 16 — Three women arrive at dawn expecting a corpse. They find a young man in white and a message that rewrites everything: he is risen.
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