Although nearly all biblical scholars agree that Mark’s original manuscript concludes at 1:8, and that the so-called “longer ending” is a later addition to this gospel, it is still difficult to deal with the abrupt and apparently incomplete nature of this text. Matthew, Luke, and John add oodles of details to the Easter morning event, with as much traffic back and forth from the tomb as some Monday morning commutes. In contrast, Mark’s presentation is stark and simple. Mark focuses his reader on a very specific moment — the empty tomb is revealed and the pronouncement of its significance is announced: “he is raised.” In other words, Mark’s text is less about the disciples who will make up the community of faith, and more about the faith that will make a disciple-community possible — the fa…