The four Gospels give nine narrative descriptions of the appearances of the Risen Lord. (In some cases, the same appearance is described in more than one Gospel.)
What is remarkable about these accounts is their sobriety. They are not eerie, mysterious, bizarre, sensationalized, as in some of the apocryphal gospels, or as often in accounts of visions.
For example, in Luke’s account, the disciples wonder if they are seeing a ghost. But Jesus doesn’t go in that direction. He shows them his hands and feet, and after that he asks for something to eat.
This contrasts with the accounts in some of the pseudo-gospels, which tend toward the secret and sensational. For example, here is how the apocryphal “Gospel of Peter” (written between 150-200 A.D.) describes the resurrection – replete with a cross that walks, two angels as tall as the sky escorting Jesus, and Jesus even taller.
“The soldiers saw…three men come out of the sepulcher, with the two supporting the other one, and a cross following them, and the heads of the two reaching up to heaven, but that of the one being led out by them going beyond the heavens."
Mark’s Gospel presents a negative picture of those who would later emerge as leaders in the Christian community – the disciples in general. Peter in particular, and even the relatives of Jesus who early in his ministry set out to seize him because they thought he was “out of his mind” (3:21). Even in today’s passage, the disciples fall short.
Why does Mark present such a negative portrait?
It is thought that Mark wrote his Gospel for the Christians in Rome just after they had experienced a terrible persecution under Nero. Some of them, under torture, gave up their faith and even betrayed other Christians, costing them their lives. After Nero died, some of the “deserters” wanted to rejoin the Christian community, but there were hard feelings. Some even questioned whether a person who disclaimed their baptism could ever be reinstated.
Mark wanted to remind them that the disciples failed too – including Peter. But they were able to emerge from failure to greatness, even giving their lives in martyrdom.
We can all think of our failures. And we can all take heart from Mark – he meant his Gospel for us too.