LANGUAGE:
The Shocking Story: He Has Risen!
(Mark 16:1–8: Matt 28:1–8; Luke 24:1–10; John 20:1–8)
I invite you to open your Bibles to the 16th chap of Mark’s Gospel. We’ll be focusing in on vs1-8. In these verses Mark gives us a very short account of the first responders to Jesus’ resurrection. I know that we are weeks out from the wonder of the resurrection, but we should never lose sight of that earth shaking moment. In fact, every Sunday gathering spins off of that resurrection morning. Each Sunday worship is a call to remember and celebrate the power of God over death, spiritually and physically. According to Romans 8:11, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Mark 16 captures the story of the resurrection responders. I invite you to follow along as we read these verses.
1When the Sabbath was over (that would be Saturday), Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus. So 2Very early Sunday morning, just as the sun was rising, they headed for the tomb. 3As they walked along, they said to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4But when they got to the garden, they noticed right away that the stone, which was extremely large, had been rolled away. 5They entered the tomb ‘for a look see’ and saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting to the right side. They were panic-stricken. 6 The young man said to them, “Don’t panic! You’re looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been brought back to life. He’s not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 7Now Go and tell his disciples and Peter, that He’s going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as He told them.” 8Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They didn’t say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.
This is the Word of God for us today.
Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, as we look again at the resurrection of our Lord, mold us into vibrant voices of the resurrection of Jesus, who was once dead, but now very much alive. What we do not understand, teach us. What He wants us to do, empower us to action. Amen.
Never has there been a morning like that Sunday morning. According to John 20 the Disciple Team was cowering somewhere behind lock doors for fear of their lives.[i] It was not unthinkable that the Jewish leadership wouldn’t come after them. If Jesus' enemies had Him killed, it stands to reason they might be looking to get rid of them as well.[ii] It was indeed the most miserable weekend of their lives, a weekend filled with gloom and doom, tears and overwhelming fear, and the collapse of a Kingdom dream.
V1, despite the tears, overwhelming fear, and loss of a dream, Mark highlights three gutsy women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome heading for the garden tomb in the early morning hours. As a side note, they weren’t the only ones. According to the other gospels they were joined by three additional women.[iii] So when we add it all up, we have six very gutsy women.
As we wrestle with the events, it is important for us to remember that these are the same women who witnessed the entire crucifixion of Jesus. The point for us is that these women witnessed without a doubt that Jesus did not slip into unconsciousness on the cross and later regain consciousness in the tomb. They could testify beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus had died, was placed in a specific tomb, and the tomb had been sealed, but now it was empty of a body.[iv]
V2, they are on their way to the tomb with more species, a testament again of their knowing Jesus was dead. They had no expectations of a resurrection.
Time wise, It’s most likely around five in the morning, which tells us something of the love these ladies had for Jesus. It was an overpowering love that pushed them through the disappointments, confusion and fear that hung in the air.
V3, while on their way they began asking each other, Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? Though Mark doesn’t mention it, Matthew 28 tells us that on their way a violent earthquake occurred, for an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven and rolled the stone away. Upon their arrival, they see that the stone, which was extremely large, had been rolled away, opening the entrance of the tomb. And again, Matthew 28 tells us that with the appearance of the angel and the moving of the stone, the posted guards froze with fear and became like dead men. So as the women approached, it was a sight to behold—the huge stone rolled back and men lying on the ground as if dead. No wonder they initially thought that Jesus’ body had been stolen.[v] Remember, these women did not believe in the possibilities of a resurrection. As far as they were concerned Jesus’ had died. He was buried. His life was done.
So when we come to v5ff, we can imagine the mental gymnastics that they had to go through--the posted soldiers laying on the ground as if dead, the huge stone rolled back, and an angel dressed in brilliant white sitting there, apparently expecting them. These women weren’t just amazed; they were panic stricken.
6The young man said to them, “Don’t panic! You’re looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been brought back to life. He’s not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 7Now Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he’s going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them.” 8They went out of the tomb and ran away. Shock and trembling had overwhelmed them. They didn’t say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid. [Mark 16:6–8 (GW)]
As I reflected on that resurrection morning, I began to ask myself, how should Jesus’ resurrection impact my life. I want us to focus on six ways His resurrection is meant to impact our thinking.
Remember, the disciples were hiding out behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leadership. Jesus' crucifixion had smashed any idea of a Kingdom with Him as King. Hope had been replaced with fear. Dreams are dashed. Life’s purpose had just vanished. And yet Mark tells us, in spite of it all, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome ventured out early Sunday morning with spices to cover the smells of death.
Here’s what I want us to wrestle with--it’s in the midst of confusion, adversity and fear that some of the greatest testimonies unfold. Living out our faith in twisted circumstances is not about ignoring our feelings or the reality of hopelessness. It is not pretending that everything is OK when it isn’t. Living out one’s faith in the midst of confusion comes down to a choice in spite of the unknown.[vi]
Proverbs 24:10 (NASB95) If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited. Troubles point out our weaknesses and prompt us to rely on God in ways that we wouldn’t unless we had a connection. The love that these women had for Jesus was greater than their fears. Perhaps somewhere in the back of their minds was Proverbs 29:25 (NASB95) The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.[vii] These women were ‘exalted’ by being the first to see the empty tomb, and given the message to announce His resurrection. And we need to remember also that Mary Magdalene was first to talk with the risen Jesus.
You might want to think about this: the actions of these women highlight the priority that Jesus had in their lives, which leads me to ask . . . Does the cultural pressures of fear suffocate you/me from speaking out for the gospel of the Kingdom?[viii]
V7, To these first responders standing in utter astonishment, the angel now issues a command--go and tell. Unknown to them, their gutsiness placed them front and center--the first to get the news of the resurrection, and the first to run and tell, and the first to actually talk with Jesus following His resurrection. While the men were hiding, the women were pushing their security parameters.
They had come to the tomb to anoint a dead body; they left the empty tomb with an earth shattering message--now that you have seen, Go and tell . . . here in the Gk ‘go and tell’ is an active command. Imagine the mental gymnastics they were going through. 20 minutes earlier they were asking each other Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? Now they are told, go and tell, the tomb is empty, He has risen from the dead!!! You talk about being stunned?! These women found themselves caught up in a resurrection tornado.
Listen carefully. As one writer has said, their knowledge of the truth of the resurrection was their call to action. That knowledge of the truth of the resurrection from the dead is now our call for action. It is now our rally cry, He has risen!!! Jot this down: When God discloses resurrection truth, He enlists people to the task of spreading the word.[ix] Just as the resurrection of Jesus was true then, it is just as true today. Getting the news out today is more urgent as we see the final curtain in God’s great drama of redemption drawing ever closer.[x]
And this begs a simple question: in what ways does the resurrection of Jesus impact your and my motivation to live? Does it prompt you/I to tell people everywhere as we go about our business that Jesus is neither dead nor gone, but very much alive and present? Does it prompt us to tell people everywhere there is salvation in no one else but in the name of Jesus?[xi]
Mark this down: the angel told the women, Go!! Tell His disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you . . . there you will see Him . . . just as He told you.
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) . . . According God’s great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope . (where does that living hope come from?) . . . through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Our hope is not hoping it won’t rain tomorrow. Our hope is living and anchored on real truth. It keeps our heads above water, it inspires our confidence, it sustains our courage, and gives us the determination to swim against the current of adversity.[xii] Our lively hope is that death has no hold on us.[xiii] Without the resurrection, the belief in God's saving grace through Jesus is worthless.
Living hope is a lively hope. When there is living hope our adrenaline runs faster, we’re pushed against the odds. Like the swimmer who has lost hope in the ocean, until he sees a boat coming towards him. Suddenly his adrenaline kicks in, and he begins to swim with a fresh determination. Why? Because now he expects his efforts to be effectual. Living hope takes us beyond adversity, beyond the unknown, through the confusion, and removes that sense of emptiness.
Where does our living hope come from? It comes from our knowing the realness of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Romans 8:11 (ESV) If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. The follower of Jesus, in the midst of the waves of adversity, has living hope that pushes him/her against the currents. Our hope is anchored on the solid rock of Christ’s resurrection. As Jesus said in John 11:25–26 (ESV) 25“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
When you let the wonder of the resurrection grip you, your heart begins to burn within you. It did for the two guys on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 blinded by grief, hearts filled with pain. Not recognizing Jesus, He joins up with them and takes part in the discussion. They invite him for supper. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road . . . ?”[xiv]
The kind of burning heart that these two disciples spoke of can only come when we encounter the resurrected Jesus. Only the resurrected Jesus can inflame our entire being, bring order out of chaos, focus in the fog, confidence in adversity, and hope in the unknown. It isn’t a feeling; it is something much deeper that cannot be fabricated . . .
This ‘burning’ in the heart is the fire of His resurrected presence, bringing confident hope. Again Romans 8:11 (ESV) 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
It is HE, Himself, the Resurrected Lord abiding within us, bringing order out of chaos, life out of deadness, confident hope out of adversity. When you meet the resurrected Lord, your heart will burn within you and you will become a light on the hill top, living as a beacon of hope for those who walk in darkness.
Have you met the Resurrected Lord, the judge of all the earth? If so, it behooves us to go and tell everyone everywhere about the power of the resurrected life.
Acts 17:30-32, we have a sermon preached by Paul some 20 years after the fact of the resurrection. He wraps up His sermon with these striking words:
30“In the past God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man Whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”[xv] [Acts 17:30–31 (NASB95)] As his words bounced off the stone steps, the audience began to mock him because his application was ludicrous. No one ever came back from the dead.[xvi] But we dare not miss his application. It is powerful. In his application he highlights at three great truths that we dare not miss.
That’s where Mark 16 comes in. God provided eyewitness accounts. And in Acts 10:40–41 (NASB95) were told that the witnesses were specifically chosen by God Himself. 40“God raised Jesus up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. [xvii]
We don’t want to miss these striking words: 31 God has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man Whom He has appointed, Who was raised from the dead. In light of the resurrection of Jesus God has set a day for judging the world, and He has appointed the judge. Daniel 7:14(nlt) “Jesus has been given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. So all judgment had been given to the one who was raised from the dead—Jesus Christ.[xviii]
To reject the resurrection of Jesus is to reject God’s personal intervention to the coming judgment on our behalf, and to stay the course to the ultimate destination of all unbelievers—the fires of hell.[xix] Putting it all together, the resurrection of Jesus is designed by God to be a global warning that judgement is coming, therefore everyone better repent. In light of the resurrection repentance is now absolutely necessary.[xx] What that means is, the resurrection of Jesus has huge life altering eternal repercussions.
Romans 1, vs 3-4(ESV) 3concerning ‘God’s’ Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,[xxi]
When Jesus rose from the dead, His resurrection confirmed His identity as the Son of God and His work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. The Resurrection was a literal, physical raising of Jesus’ body from the dead. The central event of God’s redemptive story is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It’s the cornerstone of our faith. It is where we place our hope. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no Christianity.[xxii] The reason we need to get a grip on Jesus’ resurrection is that in one sense, it is God’s ‘exclamation point’ to the resurrected life that is available to us through the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [xxiii] What I want us to understand is that Romans 1:3-4 tells us that the resurrection is the most conclusive and irrefutable evidence of Jesus’ divine Sonship. His resurrection is a declaration that He was and is indeed the Son of God! It marks His identity as to His genuineness of His Godness. In light of His goodness, He has been given the right to declare salvation to all who would believe in Him.[xxiv]. And so I close with Romans 10:9–11 (NASB95) 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
Let’s pray close in prayer.
Sovereign Risen Lord, be our resurrection and life. By Your radiant and magnificent resurrection, You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a conqueror. You reconciled Heaven and earth. Our life had no hope of eternal happiness before You redeemed us. Your sacrifice on the cross for us and Your resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence, and brought us joy. How inestimable is the tenderness of Your love! May thoughts of Your resurrection power sweep over us to the point that we say with Paul, we long to know Your resurrection power. Amen.
[i] John 20:19 (NASB95) 19So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”" The Jews" is in reference to the religious leaders of Jerusalem and their loyal adherents. The “fear of the Jews” naturally followed the Crucifixion. The Shepherd was struck, and the flock was scattered. They would remember, too, His own words, which foretold persecution for them (John 15:18 et seq.), and there may have been definite charges against some of them. Peter, e.g., had drawn upon himself the hostility of the high priest’s household, and John was known to be among the disciples. (Comp. John 18:8; John 18:25 et seq.)
[ii] Cf., Acts 12:1–6 (NASB95) 1Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. 2And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. 3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. 5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. 6On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
[iii] Justin Taylor, Who Were the Six Women Who Saw the Risen Christ? https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/who-were-the-six-women-who-saw-the-risen-christ/
[iv] Mark 15:40 (NASB95) 40There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. Mark 15:47 (NASB95) 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.
[v] John 20:1–2 (NASB95)1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
[vi] Hebrews 11:8–11 (NASB95) 8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
[vii] Cf., Psalm 55:22 (NASB95)22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalm 118:6 (NASB95) 6The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB95) 6“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Matthew 10:28 (GW) Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
[viii] Revelation 2:4 (NASB95) 4‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
[ix] https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-16-commentary#16:7
[x] Hebrews 10:24–25 (NASB95) 24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
[xi] Acts 4:12 (NASB95) 12“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
[xii] Hebrews 11:13–16 (NASB95) 13All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
[xiii] Hebrews 2:14–15 (NASB95) 14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
[xiv] Luke 24:30–32 (ESV)
[xv] Acts 2:23–24 (NASB95) 23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 10:42 "And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
[xvi] Bruce B. Barton and Grant R. Osborne, Acts, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999), 306.To the Greek mind, the concept of resurrection was unbelievable and offensive, but on this issue the whole gospel hinged (1 Corinthians 15:13–14). Although Paul knew it would offend their precious philosophies, he did not hold back the truth. Paul often would change his approach to fit his audience, as he did with this one, but he never would change his basic message. Acts 17:32 (NASB95) 32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”
[xvii] Acts 1:3 (NASB95) To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
John 19:35 (NASB95) And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. John 21:24 (NASB95) 24This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
[xviii] John 5:21 (NASB95) 21“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.
[xix] Daniel 12:1–2 (NASB95) 1“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Hebrews 10:26–27 (NASB95) 26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
[xx] John Piper, I Have Seen the Lord (John 20:1-23), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/i-have-seen-the-lord
[xxi] It was the Holy Spirit working in Christ Who accomplished Jesus’ resurrection and every other miracle performed by Him or associated with Him. In the incarnation, Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[xxii] 1 Corinthians 15:16–19 (NASB95) 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
[xxiii] Mark 1:1 (NASB95) 1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
[xxiv] Romans 10:9–11 (NASB95) 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”