Easter

Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God died on the cross. Mark makes sure everyone knows Jesus died.

Mark describes the reaction of the centurion:

When the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39 (NIV)

That’s not all:

Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask to bury Jesus

Pilate summoned the centurion to confirm of Jesus’ death

Joseph bought a shroud and wrapped Jesus’ body

He laid Jesus in a tomb cut out of rock – Mary and Mary were watching and probably helped.

We don’t normally talk about the smell of death. Bear with me. Some critter died in our barn, in a wall. It smells terrible! It would take a strong fragrance to cover the stench.

That’s why Mary, Mary, and Salome bring spices to Jesus’ tomb. Jesus is dead so they came to deal with the smell.

This trio of women saw Jesus die. They saw Joseph lay him in this tomb and rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. When they arrived early the day after the Sabbath, they don’t expect the stone to be moved. But when they see the open tomb, they step in.

You know the feeling when you enter a room, you’re sure it’s empty, so you’re startled to find someone inside?

That’s what Mary, Mary, and Salome experience when they step into the tomb. Instead of stillness and Jesus’ body tightly wrapped in linen, they found a young man in a white robe!

No wonder they’re alarmed! His announcement adds to their bewilderment:

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:6–7 (NIV)

It’s a lot for anyone to absorb.

Don’t forget, these women had been through the wringer. They watched Jesus suffer on the cross, they heard the mocking crowd, and they watched as Jesus’ breathing got slower and more laboured. They heard his loud cry before Jesus took his last breath. Then through their grief, they watched Joseph bury Jesus.

Like the other disciples, even Peter, James, and John, they didn’t recall or believe Jesus’ promise that he would rise again. Jesus’ mentions the plan 3x:

After Peter professes Jesus is the Messiah:

[Jesus] then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 (NIV)

On Mount of Transfiguration:

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9 (NIV)

Later in Galilee as Jesus taught his disciples privately:

[Jesus] said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” Mark 9:31 (NIV)

Again, Mark shows Jesus’ words are proven true. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He has risen just as he promised!

Jesus is victorious over death and the grave!

Later in the NT, the Apostle Paul reflects on the implications for those who believe:

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Romans 6:8 (NIV)

Jesus’ resurrection gives us lots to celebrate at Easter.

The truth that humankind is sinful is evident in every edition of the news. You see the effect of lies, betrayal, greed, and malice. The painful truth of sin is evident when we look at our own behaviour. I’ll speak for myself, I can see how my sinful behaviour pushes people away. My disobedience pushes me away from God. Sin always leads to death and broken relationships because God is just and punishes people for sin.

No matter how hard I try or how much I go to church or do other good deeds, I can’t fix it. It takes a miracle. It takes a Saviour; someone to take the punishment for human sin.

Jesus is introduced in Mark’s gospel as the Messiah, the Son of God. That’s why he was arrested and convicted: the Romans sentenced him to death as the King of the Jews and the Jews sentenced him to death for claiming to be the Son of God.

Jesus was crucified. Mark leaves no doubt that Jesus died and was buried. This morning we’re confronted with the startling news that Jesus has risen. He is victorious over sin and death.

It’s why Mark’s masterpiece is called a gospel. This is the good news of Jesus’ victory!

But after the angel told Mary, Mary, and Salome that Jesus would meet Peter and the other disciples in Galilee, Mark’s gospel trails off. It’s not a very satisfying ending. The last glimpse we get of Jesus’ disciples, none of the 12 are present and the disciples who are there are terribly shaken:

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Mark 16:8 (NIV)

It doesn’t feel very triumphant.

There’s a lot of debate about the end of Mark’s gospel. The ending is very abrupt. Today is not the day to dive into the details. Tomorrow’s daily reading has information if you want to know more.

But the story does not end here. Mark’s audience believed the gospel because of Mark’s testimony, or Peter’s preaching, or the gospel-telling of Paul, Barnabas, Silas or another apostle.

Wherever they read Mark’s gospel in the Roman Empire, the apostles and other witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection had already proclaimed Jesus’ death and resurrection. The truth of Jesus’ victory over sin and death is confirmed by the HS and by the lives of believers. The news of Jesus’ victory went out from Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria and the ends of the earth. You can read how that happened in the NT book of Acts.

I’ve heard it said that the best evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is the local church. Today we heard people respond to the gospel. They professed their faith or reaffirmed faith in Jesus. Some people described how their lives are being transformed by God the HS as they live up to the righteousness that Jesus won on their behalf.

You ask me how I know he lives, he lives within my heart!

And Jesus will life in your heart too: transforming your heart, your outlook, your life. The challenges of life will continue, but you will tackle them as a citizen of the kingdom of God. He gives you a sense of peace, Shalom, for the HS of God will restore you and restore his church and restore the world in the resurrection power of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.