The Good News I Mark 15:40-47

The strongest argument for the Gospel of Christ is the personal testimony of someone whose life has been changed by it. Charles Bradlaugh, an avowed infidel, once challenged the Rev. H.P. Hughes to a debate. The preacher, who was head of a rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge with the condition that he could bring with him 100 men and women who would tell what had happened in their lives since trusting Christ as their Savior. They would be people who once lived in deep sin, some having come from poverty-stricken homes caused by the vices of their parents. Hughes said they would not only tell of their conversion, but would submit to cross-examination by any who doubted their stories. Furthermore, the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of non-believers who could tell how they were helped by their lack of faith. When the appointed day arrived, the preacher came, accompanied by 100 transformed persons. But Bradlaugh never showed up. The result? The meeting turned into a testimony time and many sinners who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate were converted.

The Gospel is the Good News that changes everything!

Jesus is alive from the dead. That is the Good News of the Gospel.

I. The Gospel Has Witnesses vv. 40-41

In our passage tonight, we pick up after the death of Jesus on the Cross.

Mark makes an important note: witnesses are present there

As we hear the various Gospel accounts, we find that 3 or 4 women are referenced as present at the Cross and at the tomb

These women are notable and are called out by name as women who are clearly known to the Church

These are women who knew Him from His time in Galilee and who followed Him there

These women are aware of all of the events that will take place surrounding the death and Resurrection of Jesus and will bear witness to these things

This testimony matters because it is crucial to our faith

Our is a historic faith and it is based on a historic fact

This is not a symbolic story, a mythical story, or a spiritualized story

It is the story of actual events in an actual place in an actual time

Christianity hinges on the testimony of these and other witnesses!

1 Corinthians 15:3–8

[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)

II. The Gospel is Christ Crucified vv. 42-43

Next, we meet a man named Joseph of Arimathea

He was a “secret” follower of Jesus who was a part of the Sanhedrin

He was silent apparently at the trial of Jesus, but now He makes a bold step out on behalf of Jesus

He goes before Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus; this is tantamount to

A criticism of Pilate

An allegiance with Jesus

Pilate is a little surprised by all of this: He’s shocked that Jesus is dead already

Again, the witnesses matter:

The presence of the women prove that it was Jesus who died: they knew Him well and would not be mistaken

The presence of Joseph of Arimathea proves that Jesus is really dead: Joseph would not bury a man who had simply swooned and was not certainly dead.

The death of Jesus matters and is an important part of the Gospel:

The death of Jesus is a sacrificial death: it is for sin

It is for the forgiveness of sin

Hebrews 9:15

[15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (ESV)

It is for the sake of new life:

Romans 6:6

[6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (ESV)

Paul says that you were a slave. Slavery is unfortunately still alive and well in our world. The story of a young girl named “Dodzi” is a common one in Ghana. Dodzi was orphaned at nine months and lived with her Grandmother, who served as her guardian. Her Grandmother had a lot on her plate as she was also taking care of eight other children by herself. At the age of 8, Dodzi was sold into slavery by her Grandmother. She was forced into the fishing slavery that was done on Lake Volta, which is the largest man-made reservoir in the world. She was forced to work on dangerous fishing boats, and did things like bailing out water, paddling the canoe, and to cast and pull in the fishing nets. Dodzi was also pressured into doing dangerous tasks, like untangling the nets while they were in the water. It would not be uncommon for children to die while doing this.

This poor girl was then forced to cook for her owners and to work non-stop around the clock. She even had a forced marriage with another slave against her will. But it gets worse for this poor girl. She had no way out, or no chance to escape. She was hopelessly stuck. Her masters were cruel and didn’t care for her one bit. Dodzi was under the threat of violence, and could be beaten and starved. She was a slave who lived according to her masters’ whims, will, and wishes.

The life of Dodzi is a reflection of our old spiritual life. Paul tells us that we were slaves to sin. As we learned last week, we inherited sin from our first parent, Adam, and we were born under its control. With sin as our master, we obeyed and served it. Our bodies, and all of our members, our eyes, fingers, toes, mouths, and minds, were offered to its service. We offered them for acts of impurity and lawlessness. This led to more impurity and lawlessness. It horribly snowballed out of control! We acted against God’s Holy and good commandments. Like Dodzi, we served our master.

III. The Gospel is Christ Buried vv. 44-47

Lastly for tonight, we see Christ buried

It is a somber note, as Joseph carries the body of Jesus away

He is wrapped for burial

He is placed in the tomb

A great stone is rolled over the entry way

The tomb has been sealed and there is a real sense of finality

The witnesses are present again:

Joseph knows where he placed Jesus

The women saw the place where Jesus was buried

They understand these things to be facts of our faith

They have no sense that He will rise again and what takes place will be a grand surprise

I think we need to let this sit with us for a bit: For a brief moment in time, the Lord endured death and the grave

We often talk about the reality of the incarnation, but it never hits home more than in this

He shared all of our experience and went to a place that we are all headed ourselves

Next week, we will see the end of this, but first I think we need to remember His death and burial

He can lead me through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, because He has already been there Himself!

A little boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon. Suddenly out of nowhere a bumblebee flew in the car window. Since the little boy was deathly allergic to bee stings he became petrified. His father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. But as soon as he let it go, the young son became frantic once again as it buzzed by the little boy.

The father sensed his son’s terror. Once again he reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to this hand. There, stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. “You see this?” he asked. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’ve taken the sting for you.”

The Christian does not need to be afraid of death because Christ has taken the sting out of death and sin.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57

[54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

[55] “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

[56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)