A Jounrey to the Cross - Sunrise Service
Notes
Transcript
The Resurrection
The Resurrection
As we gather here on this beautiful Easter morning as the sun rises, we come to remember what Jesus has done for us.
We are here to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We will continue our Journey to the cross in Mark this morning as we look at the resurrection from chapter 16.
If you have your Bible we will look at the first eight verses of Mark 16.
We will look at all eight verses and then look at some things we can take from those eight verses.
Mark 16:1-8.
Pray
Pray
I. The Stone is Moved
I. The Stone is Moved
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
The sabbath had ended, see Jesus body was placed in the tomb on Friday evening just before sunset.
The sabbath runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, as that is how the Jewish people recognize a day.
The women were able to go get the spices they would need, just after the sunset on Saturday, but would not have enough time to go to the tomb.
Therefore, early on the first day of the week, which is Sunday, the women went to the tomb.
The reason for the spices and the women going to the tomb, was that they were not able to anoint Jesus’ body on Friday.
The Jews did not embalm their dead, but rather anoint them with spices and fragrances.
Anointing the dead was an act of love.
The fact that the women came to anoint the body of Jesus shows that they like the disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead.
Jesus had spoke to them many times about His death and resurrection, but if you were in the disciples shoes, would you believe it.
Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but Jesus was speaking about Himself.
If I told you I would die but in three days I would rise again, you would probably be like yea right, or yea you will be a live in heaven.
See the disciples were just human.
The women on their way to the tomb wondered how they were going to get the stone out of the way, as there were no men with them.
They had went with Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus on Friday evening and seen where tomb Jesus was in and the stone that was put in place of the entrance.
Now on Saturday as recorded in Matthew 27:62-66
62 Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate,
63 and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’
64 “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.”
66 And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
But Saturday was the sabbath, but the Romans did not observe the sabbath, but the women did not know about the sealing and the guards being put in place.
The women continue on and get to the tomb to find that the stone had been rolled away.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
The stone was not moved to let Jesus out, but to let those coming - the women and later disciples - to enter the tomb.
The stone so to speak has been removed - so that salvation can take place.
As important as the cross and death is, the resurrection is just as important.
Jesus defeated sin and death once and for all.
II. He has Risen
II. He has Risen
5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
The women get to the tomb, and the stone is moved, they go and enter the tomb to find the angel.
This angel has a two message for the women and for us today.
First, Jesus is risen, He is not in the tomb, He is not dead but He is risen.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
Here we see the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus - all eleven of the disciples witnessed Jesus raised from the dead, over five hundred other people, and Paul himself.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the central truth of the Christian faith.
Without the resurrection, our faith is meaningless.
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
We must believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because without it, we are the most pitied of people.
III. Go and Tell
III. Go and Tell
7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ”
8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
The second message from the angel for the women and us today is Go and Tell.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus also has told us to go and tell, the message of Jesus Christ is not to be kept secret but is to be shared.
The angel tells the women go and tell the disciples and Peter.
Peter was singled out to re-assure him that he was still called to be a disciple, despite the fact that he had denied Jesus three times.
Jesus did not only bring salvation but He also brought restoration.
We have a great message that need to be shared with all.
Jesus died and three days late rose from the grave victorious over sin and death.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.