Testimonies of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
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Mark 16:1-8
Introduction:
Christ is risen. Risen indeed.
That is why we gather today. That is why we gather every Sunday, every first day of the week. That is why Sunday is the first day of the week not the last day. That is why we believe and preach the Gospel.
- The death and vicarious/sustututionary suffering of Jesus Christ are central to the Gospel. (1 Cor 15:3)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- BUT, “Without the resurrection, the cross would be meaningless and there would be no hope of salvation from sin.” (Dr John MacArthur – Commentary on Mark)
Mark 9–16: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 35: Amazement at the Empty Tomb (Mark 16:1–8)
The resurrection is not simply a component of the gospel, it is the main event. It is the glorious centerpiece of divine redemption, the cornerstone of gospel promise, and the guarantee of eternal life for those who believe. The resurrection is not the epilogue or postscript to the life of Christ, it is the culminating climax of His atoning work.
- “If Christ had not been raised, then our preaching is vain and your faith is vain. … and you are still in your sins,”(1 Cor 15:14, 17)
More than 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Very quickly, the truth and implications of His resurrection transformed and emboldened the disciples and early believers. They soon transitioned to worshiping on the Sabbath to the first day of the week, celebrating the resurrection and their risen Lord. (Acts 17:31). God’s raising Jesus became the focal point in most of their preaching. (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; Rom 4:25; 8:11; 1 Cor 15:4, 42, Eph 2:6; 1 Pet 1:21)
because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
New Testament sermon records always had as their last 2 points. Jesus was killed/died for sinners but God raised Him. Those to whom they preached were never left in doubt. Although the death of Jesus was terrible, God raised Him from the dead. That was/is the core of the Gospel. Those who repented of their sin and accepted God’s gracious gift of salvation, God will also raise to be with Him.
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
For NT believers, God’s raising Christ, insured not only that He would raise us but was a constant reminder that we are His and must live for Him.
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
Sad and ironic as it might seem today, the first testimonies of the resurrection of Jesus did not initially embolden those who first heard. Quite the opposite was true. Mark’s record is brutally honest. The initial responses of those who heard were alarm, trembling, astonishment and fear. The disciples rejected the first reports from the women. When Peter and John came to the empty tomb, John believed. For the disciples faith did not come easy. That should serve to encourage those who a hesitant to believe that God raised Jesus from the grave.
May Mark’s record of three distinct testimonies by the Spirit of God to move those who initially reject the risen Christ to saving faith in Him.
1. The testimony of the “empty” tomb – Mark 16:1-5a -
When the Sabbath was past:
The Jews marked days as beginning at sundown, rather than midnight (no clocks only sun dials - 2 Kings 20:9-11 - and sand/water glasses)
No Sabbath mandated after the resurrection - Col 2:16-17- cc no Passover after Christ’s death and the institution of the Lord’s Table - based on the New Covenant - Mk 14:22-25 -
3 reputable attesters to the witness to the empty tomb and what the angel said - Mary Magdalene, Mary – James’ mother, and Salome
Mark focused on three of a larger group of women - same 3 women who looked on from a distance at the crucifixion - Mk 15:40:
Mary Magdalene - delivered of 7 demons.
and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Mary, mother of James the less/younger(and Joses) Mk 15:40 - son of Alpheus - Matt 10:3; therefore that Mary’s husband, Alphaeus
There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
Salome (Mary’s sister - Jn 19:25 - wife of Zebedee - Matt 27:56; mother of James & John
Other Gospel writers refer to :
Joanna & other women also there - Lk 24:10; including Mary the mother of Jesus & Mary’s sister (Salome), and Mary, the wife of Clopas
Joanna - husband of Chuza, Herod’s steward - Lk 8:3;
Came with their own prepared spices that they would add to the spices used by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus when they wrapped Jesus’ body for His burial on Friday - Mk 15:46; Jn 19:39;
One last opportunity to demonstrate love
Because Jewish people did not, and still do not embalm, the spices were to mitigate odours from decomposition.
Burial within 24 hours - less if the next day the Sabbath
Very early the first day of the week, when the sun had risen
Matt 28:1 - as it began to dawn
Lk 24:1 - at the early dawn
Mary Magdalene came ahead of the group while it was still dark - Jn 20:1-
“Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” - Mk 16:3-
Only Mark records this conversation among the ladies.
Knew that Joseph of Arimathea had secured the tomb with a stone - Mk 15:46;
Obviously, did not know that the tomb had been sealed with a guard posted - Matt 27:62-66 - the next day, the Sabbath, Saturday.
Stone had been rolled back
It was very large.
Mark’s focus was that the stone had been rolled back not how it was rolled back.
Matthew recorded that there had been great earthquake for the angel of the Lord came and rolled the stone back - Matt 28:2-
2nd earthquake associated with Christ’s death - curtain in the temple torn in two, from the top to the bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened. And the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs and after His resurrection they went into the city and appeared to many. - Matt 27:51-53 - prompted the centurian and those with him keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
Mark 9–16: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Testimony of the Empty Tomb (16:1–5a)
It is important to note that the reason the angel removed the stone was not to let Jesus out. In His resurrection body, the Lord could pass through walls without needing a door (cf. Luke 24:31; John 20:19). Rather, it was to let the women inside, since they would have been unable to remove the heavy stone themselves
A young man dressed in white robe, sitting on right side
Entering did not find Jesus’ body - Lk 28:3 - but saw a young man dressed in white
Appearance:
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
Guards feared and fell down
Alarmed:
While the ladies were no doubt also overwhelmed by seeing angels, that is natural, there was also the question of who had taken Jesus’ body and where had they laid Him.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
The tomb was empty:
The Roman soldiers knew it.
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
So did the religious leaders.
And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
The women knew that it was empty.
Lk 24:3; Jn 20:2;
Peter & John
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
Mark 9–16: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Testimony of the Empty Tomb (16:1–5a)
Significantly, Jesus’ enemies never disputed the empty tomb. Instead, they tried to explain it away by bribing the soldiers to lie and say His disciples had stolen the body (Matt. 28:12–15). In reality, the tomb being empty had nothing to do with the disorganized and cowardly disciples (cf. Mark 14:50; John 20:19), and everything to do with Jesus rising triumphantly from the dead, just as He promised He would do (cf. Matt. 12:40; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34; Luke 13:32; 18:33; John 2:19).
2. The testimony of the angel(s)* – Mark 16:5b-6 -
“Do not be alarmed”
“You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.”
The women had come to the correct tomb.
The angel’s response was not a matter special knowledge. They women had come to the tomb of:
Jesus of Nazareth
Where Jesus had lived to fulfill prophecy.
A Nazarene rather than from Nazareth
Nazarene, someone despised
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
“He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,
the servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise;
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
“He is risen; He is not here.”
Has risen or has been raised.
Greek aorist passive.
Mark 9–16: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Testimony of the Angels (16:5b–6)
The aorist passive form of the Greek verb egeirō (has risen) is more accurately rendered, “has been raised” (cf. Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15, 26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30, 33, 34, 37; Rom. 4:24–25; 6:9; 7:4; 8:34; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:4, 12–20; 2 Cor. 4:14; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Peter 1:21)
Mark 9–16: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Testimony of the Angels (16:5b–6)
Though Jesus Himself possessed the authority to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:18), the New Testament also teaches that He was raised by the power of both the Father (Rom. 6:4; Gal. 1:1; 1 Peter 1:3) and the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11). That reality is not contradictory but rather affirms the unity of God within the Trinity, since each member of the Godhead participated in the resurrection (as they did in creation
According to Lk 24:5; the angel asked a question/mild rebuke - “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” They should have anticipated His resurrection. He had promised it through His ministry. - times in Matthew - Matt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 27:63; The angel reminded them of Jesus promise.
He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’
Only after the angel’s words, they remembered His words.
And they remembered his words,
“See the place where they laid Him”
*Mark & Matthew focused on the man/angel (Matt 28:2,)who spoke, 2 men - Lk 24:4 -
Mark is customary succinct most of often tells us just the basic facts. The women saw the place when they laid. Jesus was not in the place where they laid Him.
The women would have seen what Peter and John saw later.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
3. The testimony of eye witnesses – Mark 16:7-8 -
COMMANDED - to testify to others what they had seen and heard.
The angels had been sent by God the Father to the women to affirm Jesus resurrection. With that explanation, there was the clear command to tell others.
The angels were sent by God - Lk 1:19, 38; Heb 1:14; 2:2;
As one author observes: The announcement of the divine emissary establishes an inseparable continuity between the historical Jesus and the resurrected Jesus. The one whom the angel invites them to know is the one whom they have known. The announcement of the angel is literally the gospel, good news, and the place which the gospel is first preached is the empty tomb that both received and gave up the Crucified One. (James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark, Pillar New Testament Commentary [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002], 494) John MacArthur, Mark 9–16, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 402.
“Go tell His disciples and Peter:
Peter was named, not because he was the assumed leader, but even after his denials, Jesus was ...
Matthew recorded that after denying Jesus - Mk 14:66-72, Peter went out and wept bitterly - Matt 26:75;
That He is going before you to Galilee.
Jn 21:1-25;
Epilogue to John 1-20 with a clear connection to Jn 1:1-14;
Jn 21 also explained:
The resurrected Christ continues to care for His disciples - miraculous catch of 153 large fish
Although the last record of Peter was when John and Peter visited the tomb & only John believed - Jn 20:8; Jn 21:15-17 records Peter affirmation of love for Jesus and Jesus commands to Peter - feed my lambs, tend my sheep.
Jesus is still their master. They are to follow Him - Jn 21:19, 22;
Why other things weren’t included in John’s or other records - Jn 21:25;
There you will see Him, just as He told you.”
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
And they went out and fled from the tomb
For trembling and astonishment had seized them
Trembling - tromos - physically shaking cause by great fear
Astonishment - ekstasis - Greek word from which we get ecstasy.
And they said nothing to anyone,
Except the disciples
For they were afraid.
Bewilderment and wonder
4. Although that was the beginning of the story, it was not the end of the story.
Peter & John came later
So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Mary Magdalene returned and Christ appeared to her.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
11 initially refused to believe.
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Jesus appeared twice to the disciples in upper room - Jn 20:19-23; 24-29;
As we weigh these testimonies, we must ask ourselves and each other unavoidable two questions.
1. How can professing disciples question the resurrection and not tell others?
Before we consider that question, there is an essential faith question, that cannot be side stepped.
DO YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE RESURRECTION IS LITERALLY TRUE TO - THAT JESUS CAME BACK TO LIFE IN HIS BODY - TO BE A CHRISTIAN?
There was a time that the editor’s of the “Washington Post” & “Newsweek” had an “On Faith”. They asked Dr W Albert Mohler, the President of Southern Seminary, Louisville,KY, that question. Dr Mohler’s answer was that the Bible very clearly answered that question. Dr Mohler was not the only religious leader whom they asked.
This was the question asked for the end of the past week by the editors of The Washington Post and Newsweek for the "On Faith" conversation. Here was the question as stated by the editors: Do you have to believe the resurrection is literally true -- that Jesus came back to life in his body -- to be a Christian?
A similarly framed question is often asked about various Christian doctrines and such questions are unavoidable. If the word "Christian," used as a noun, is to mean anything, it must be defined -- and the definition must include some essential doctrinal elements. The New Testament leaves no choice here, for essential beliefs are explicitly mentioned within the Bible's presentation of the Gospel.
On this essential question -- Do you have to believe the resurrection is literally true -- that Jesus came back to life in his body -- to be a Christian? -- the Bible is actually very clear.
As I said in my On Faith column [see full text here]:
📷The literal, historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the vindication of Christ's saving work on the cross. The issue is simple -- no resurrection, no Christianity. For this reason, belief in the resurrection of Christ is essential in order to be a Christian.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the central miracle of the Christian faith. As the New Testament reveals, the resurrection represents the Father's complete satisfaction in the obedience of the Son -- even unto death. Sin and death do not have the final word. Indeed, they are defeated through the saving work of Christ. . . .
As Paul well understood, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, we are to be pitied, for our faith is in vain. Those who would preach a resurrectionless Christianity have substituted the truth of the gospel for a lie. But, asserted Paul, Christ is risen from the dead. Our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. He willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son.
The great good news of the resurrection is this -- those who come to Christ by faith will share in His victory over sin and death. Belief in the resurrection of Christ is clearly essential in order for one to be a Christian. The Christian church has understood this from the beginning, and the Apostle Paul left no room for doubt when he declared that those who are saved are those who confess with their lips that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead [Romans 10:9].
There were other significant responses. Bishop N. T. Wright argued for the resurrection as a "concrete" event in history and as the central affirm-ation of Christ's victory, but did not actually answer the question as asked. Oddly, Michael Otterson, Media Relations Director of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said: "To take the resurrection out of Christianity is to gut the Christian faith of much of its hope and promise." Much? The Apostle Paul said it would remove all hope and promise from the Christian faith. What do Mormons believe would be left?
Interestingly, Deepak Chopra, the New Age president of the Alliance for a New Humanity, made this claim: I think there are three ways to interpret the Resurrection and remain Christian in every sense of the word. 1. Jesus of Nazareth literally arose from the dead. 2. The divine Resurrection as the core of Christian theology. 3. The resurrection of the spirit whenever a person attains higher consciousness.
Now, Chopra writes as one who knows he is "someone outside the Christian faith," but what makes his point so interesting is that it is almost precisely the argument made by liberal Protestant theology -- that it is enough to believe that the Apostles experienced a special consciousness of the risen Christ.
In a set of parallel articles at "On Faith," various figures spoke of what the claim of the resurrection means to them. Unsurprisingly, retired Bishop John Shelby Spong said more about what he does not believe -- another testimony to liberal theology: I do not believe that the deceased body of Jesus was resuscitated physically on the third day and was restored to the life of this world as, at least, the later gospels assert, but I do believe that in him and through him people found a way into that which is eternal and so they portrayed him as breaking through and transcending the limits of death.
Spong said he was speaking "for those people who are committed to the Jesus experience, but because they are citizens of the 21st Century cannot twist their minds into First Century pretzels in order to say "I believe" to the traditional explanations offered by the biblical writers."
Well, at least he is strangely if boldly honest. The choice is between John Shelby Spong and the Apostle Paul. A choice this clear is truly a gift.
R. ALBERT MOHLER, JR.
R. ALBERT MOHLER, JR.
Those who deny Christ was raised are in fact saying that Jesus died and there was no victory over sin. Jesus is still dead because of our sins. And with that we are forever dead in our sins and separated from God for all of eternity.
If people deny the the truth that Jesus was raised, the truth remains.
WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS RAISED BODILY FROM THE GRAVE. ARE WE COMMITTED TO TELL THE TRUTH?
How far are we willing to go to lovingly and graciously tell people that some of the things that they believe are lies.
If we are committed to the truth and telling the truth we cannot allow anyone to assume that we agree with the “lies” that they have been told.
There are those who feel how we feel that how we define life and death is based on faulty assumptions from the Bible.
if they feel the right to say that, then we have a similar right also say with grace and truth, thanks for your transparency, but I believe that your life choices are faulty, the reason being your perspective is mortal and temporal. The Bible shows us what is eternal. What we see is temporal. Each us must choose what to build our lives on.
Compare Valadimir Putins’ lies and deception Valadimir Zelenzky’s truths
2. How can those who believe in Christ/accept the testimonies, still become overcome with fear?
We are human. Therefore we must:
Trust in the Lord not ourselves.
Trust in the Lord not others.
No be discouraged by what others do or do not do
Not compare our selves with others.
Not resist the hard question:
Do you love me?
Remember our work is not in vain.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
We believe that Jesus died, once and for all for our sins. We believe that God raised Him to show the price was paid in full. We believe that God will also raise us/believers.
AWV/Apr 9/23