Mark 16:1 Meaning: When Their Hope Seemed Gone

The Greek word for bought is agorazō. It means to purchase in the marketplace, to exchange money for goods. This was not a casual impulse. These women spent their own resources to buy burial spices for Jesus. Their devotion cost them something real, even when their hope was thin.

The word for spices is arōmata. It refers to aromatic substances used in embalming, like myrrh and aloe. The same word appears in the Old Testament for the spices used to prepare kings for burial (2 Chronicles 16:14). They were taking out of their cupboards the finest things they owned, because He deserved the best they could give.

And then the purpose: to anoint, aleiphō. This is a simple word for rubbing or smearing oil on a body. It is an act of tenderness, the last service you can do for someone you love. The women were not planning a miracle. They were planning a goodbye. But the word they used for their intention turned out to be the same word that would soon be spoken by an angel: “He is risen.” They came to anoint a corpse; they found a living Lord.

Across Christian traditions, commentators agree on one striking detail in this verse: the women did not expect Jesus to rise. Adam Clarke notes that their buying spices is proof they had not understood Christ's predictions of His resurrection. Barnes' commentary calls it a strengthening of the evidence, if they had expected a resurrection, they would not have brought burial spices. This is not a point of division; it is a shared observation. The women's actions show that the resurrection was not something the disciples invented or imagined. They were not looking for it. They were surprised by it. Even Calvin points out that the purchase happened after the Sabbath, indicating that the women were simply following custom, not anticipating a miracle. What unites readers across traditions is the recognition that God acted beyond what anyone expected, and that honest confusion does not disqualify someone from being part of His story.

Some readers think the women were acting out of simple faithfulness and that Jesus honored their devotion. That part is true, but it misses the main point of the text. The evangelist includes this detail to show that they did not believe Jesus would rise, even though He had said so plainly. In fact, their unbelief is the very thing that makes the resurrection more credible. If they had expected it, skeptics could say they staged it. But they came to anoint a dead body, and found an empty tomb. Their honest mistake actually helps us trust the story more.

Maybe this week you are going through motions that feel pointless. You show up at church, you pray, you try to do the right thing, but deep down you are not expecting much to change. The women knew exactly how that feels. They walked to the tomb with spices in hand, ready to finish a sad task. They did not know that the stone was already rolled away. That is worth holding onto: you can be carrying out what feels like a final goodbye, and God is already at work on the other side. Your small act of love may be walking straight into a resurrection you cannot see yet. Keep walking. The stone might already be moved.