The Mountain Peak of the Gospel

The Good News of the Resurrection

The biblical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crescendo, the mountain peak, the ultimate culmination of the gospel.

Mark 16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Event of All Events

All four gospel writes include this life-changing event. To proclaim the Good News (the meaning of “gospel”), we must include the resurrection.

Expecting a Corpse (Mark 16:1-2)

After Sabbath, occurring from 6pm Friday to 6 pm Saturday, the women got up before sunrise to anoint the body with burial spices.

The Jewish practice was to bury the body of a dead person immediately. There was no embalming and a decaying dead body stinks with an unprecedented smell.

Strips of cloth were wrapped on the arms and legs and then over the whole body up to the neck. Spices of myrrh and aloe—100 pounds of it—was packed in between the bandages. A separate cloth was placed on the head. Once the spices were added, they would pour oils on the bandages. This was not to act as embalming but to show respect and devotion.

An unnamed woman anointed Jesus with expensive oil and the disciples didn’t like this. She was a woman who had a sordid past and was grateful to Jesus. The disciples were worried about how it would make him and them look if a woman of the street could touch Jesus.

Jesus rebuked the disciples and said, “In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial” (Matt. 26:12). All four gospel writers include this account.

Sorrow is meant to awaken the powers that are apt to sleep in prosperity, Alexander Maclaren, a Scottish preacher in the 19th century said. The Apostles were tucked away in the upper room while these three women shlepped 100 pounds of ointment to the tomb where Jesus was placed. This was a dangerous and bold action while the men stayed clear.

Since the sabbath was approaching at the time of Jesus’ death, the followers of Jesus did not have any time to anoint the body prior to entombment, so they waited until after the Sabbath and came very early, Scripture tells us.

The women were looking for a dead man and did not expect him to be alive. Their faith did not move them to action, but their love did.

The tradition of Jewish people was to visit the burial location of a dead loved one for three days and then not ever again. They believed a dead person’s spirit hovered for three days.

Who Will Move the Stone?

Mark 16:3 ESV

And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

The stone at the tomb’s entrance was estimated at four to five thousand pounds. Three men would struggle to move it, much less three women. A cargo carrier, that rectangular box that transports goods on a ship, weighs 5,000 pounds. A rhinoceros also weighs 5,000 pounds. Do you think three people could move a rhinoceros?

No person had to move the stone because the Lord sent an angel to roll it back for them (Matthew 28:2). Jesus did not need the angel to roll it back so he could get out. In his glorified, resurrected body, he was able to walk through physical walls, as he did in the upper room. He needed the women to get in to see that Jesus was no longer confined to the tomb in a state of death.

The Shock & Fear with the Angel’s Presence

A young man in a luminescent white robe was awaiting the women when they walked in. The were alarmed. Matthew’s account of this say they trembled and became like dead. Luke says they were frightened. It’s the same word Jesus used when he arrived at Gethsemane to be turned over to the soldiers. Jesus said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Mark 14:34).

The angel told them not to be alarmed about two things: 1) That this extraterrestrial looking man in a long white glowing robe was not there to harm them. 2) That the body of Jesus was no longer there.

Mark 16:6 ESV

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:7–8 ESV

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The angel told them that Jesus was alive! A follower of Islam converted to Christianity and was asked why. He said, “I was experiencing anxiety about my life and I came to a fork in the road. One way led to a leader who was dead and the other led to a leader who was alive. I chose the one who was raised from the dead.

The women left the tomb trembling, but hopeful.

Jesus Appeared to Many

Jesus did appear to the women. When the women ran to tell the Apostles, gathered in the Upper Room, Jesus met them along the way and they fell at his feet and worshiped him (Matt. 28:9). When the women told the Apostles, they did not believe them (Luke 24: 11).

Luke 24:11 ESV

but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

Peter and John rose up to run to the tomb to see for themselves and marvelled that he was not there (Luke 24:12).

Two other disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus and Jesus met them but they did not recognize his glorified body. After letting them tell him what took place, Jesus recited Scriptures that told all about Jesus, including the resurrection. It wasn’t until they broke bread together that Jesus opened their eyes to see who he really was (Luke 24:28-35).

Jesus then showed up inside the Upper Room, where they had locked themselves inside, to reveal himself to the Apostles and they were frightened and surprised (Luke 24:36-44).

The Resurrection is True and Validated by Many Witnesses.

Jesus appeared alive after his resurrection to these women, to Peter and all of the Apostles, to Paul, and to 500 brothers at one time.

1 Corinthians 15:4–6 ESV

that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Long Ending of Mark

Mark 16:9-20 is not considered in the original manuscripts comprising the Bible. It is understood that this section was included to give Mark a proper conclusion. We include it because it is consistent with the other passages in the gospels.

Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, the woman who was among the last to leave Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:25), and the one whom Jesus cleaned of seven demons (Luke 8:2-3).

Those who have been forgiven much are that much more grateful.

She became the first evangelist, telling others about the risen Lord.

The Great Commission

After Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples for being hard-hearted, he sends the disciples to the whole world.

Mark 16:15–16 ESV

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

This phrase, “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” has created some confusion whether baptism is necessary for salvation. The second half does not include baptism.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:18 ESV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Belief is the basis for salvation. Scripture clearly teaches that baptism is not necessary for salvation, but rather, for sanctification because Jesus commanded it.

Three reasons we get baptized:

Baptism is commanded by our Lord, Jesus Christ

Baptism identifies us with Christ.

Baptism is a witness to the world of our faith in Jesus.

The command to preach the gospel to everyone accompanied signs at that time in order to validate their message.

Cast out demons

Speak in tongues

Handle deadly serpents

Drink deadly poison (not recorded in Scripture)

The Ascension and Session

Mark 16:19 ESV

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

After Jesus gives the mission to the disciples, he is taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God.

In Presbyterian churches, they describe the elders who rule the church as the “session.” Session from the Latin word sessio, which means "to sit", as in sitting to deliberate or talk about something

They are the group of active ruling elders, elected by the congregation, who make decisions for the running of the local church and serve as spiritual leaders of the congregation.

The session of Christ is his sitting and ruling over all creation. He has authority to rule in our lives. In Heaven, he will be the only one who sits over us.

The Book concludes with them going out and preaching everywhere. What did they preach?

Jesus is alive and has victory over death.

We can place our faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.

Through faith in Christ, we will be made alive.

1 Cor 15:21-22 “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”