In the abrupt ending of Mark's Gospel, the women who faithfully followed Jesus to the cross and tomb encounter the risen Lord through an angelic messenger—yet they flee in fear and say nothing to anyone. Mark intentionally shatters our expectations to show that every human follower (disciples and these women alike) fails, yet Jesus' word of promise never does. The true ending is not human obedience but Christ's unstoppable faithfulness to restore the fearful and fallen.