“Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”
What? Yeah, and? And??!!
A lot of people have trouble with the end of Mark. At least the end at 16:8. It’s seems kinda unsatisfying. Or at least un-done. Is it really where Mark ended? Was there more, lost very early on? I’ve gone back and forth on that myself, reading myriad guesses, analyses and creative solutions. Hey, John has an extra ending. It sorta kinda fits in there nicely? Right? Let’s use that.
Ultimately I came to peace with Mark ending right where it does. And, if you don’t mind trudging through a bit of reading, I’ll illustrate for you how I got there.
Suppose I wanted to make my own version of the Titanic disaster?
The protagonist is a ship inspector by the name of Joshua Oyl. (No relation to Olive.) He is talking to the architect, the engineer and the builder. Telling them the iron rivets they are using will be too weak. They need to order good ones immediately.
But they balk: “We don’t have the budget or time for that. So… what are ya gonna do?”
But they balk: “We don’t have the budget or time for that. So… what are ya gonna do?”
Next he is talking to the auditors and investors, begging them to add more lifeboats. They don’t have enough.
“We have exactly enough. No more than we’re required to have!”
Joshua pleads with them, pointing out that it’s is not enough to carry all the passengers. And that their publicity aside, the ship is NOT unsinkable
And they Auditors and Investors say, “Eh! What are ya gonna do?”
“We have exactly enough. No more than we’re required to have!”
Joshua pleads with them, pointing out that it’s is not enough to carry all the passengers. And that their publicity aside, the ship is NOT unsinkable
And they Auditors and Investors say, “Eh! What are ya gonna do?”
Cross-wipe to the ship.
We are on the maiden voyage. Joshua is onboard and looking very concerned, telling the captain he is going much too fast. Ice has been spotted in the area.
“But I want to get in ahead of schedule. So speed on. What are ya gonna do?”
“But I want to get in ahead of schedule. So speed on. What are ya gonna do?”
The Lookout calls, “Iceberg dead ahead!”
Joshua firmly tells the captain not to reverse engines and try to maneuver around it. It’ll be better to hit it head on.
“What? That’ll ground us!”
Joshua shakes his head, saying it’s better than sinking.
“Eh, what are ya gonna do? Reverse engines!”
Joshua firmly tells the captain not to reverse engines and try to maneuver around it. It’ll be better to hit it head on.
“What? That’ll ground us!”
Joshua shakes his head, saying it’s better than sinking.
“Eh, what are ya gonna do? Reverse engines!”
The ship’s hull scrapes along the iceberg. Water starts pouring in. Joshua’s quick analysis confirms that too many compartments have been breached. Even with the watertight doors, the ship cannot remain afloat. She is sinking. There are 2,220 people onboard. And only enough space in the lifeboats for 1,178. The captain looks at Joshua with terror in his eyes. “What are we gonna do??”
Joshua stares at him.
Joshua stares at him.
Dissolve to Black
Roll Credits
Do we need more? Do we need to see the ship sink? Passages vie desperately for space in a lifeboat? The Propeller Guy ping! into the ocean? Do we need to hear Joshua say, “I told you so”?
No. Just dissolve to black and roll the credits.
And that’s exactly how Mark ended.
