He Is Not Here

Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been walking together through the Gospel of Mark — tracing the steps of Jesus, listening to His words, and watching the story slow down as He reveals what kind of King He truly is.

We’ve seen Him call fishermen from their boats, silence storms with a word, and feed crowds with more than enough.

We’ve watched Him confront demons, heal the broken, welcome the outcast, and challenge the proud.

We’ve stood with the disciples on the mountain as the Father declared, “This is my Son… listen to Him.”

We’ve followed Him into the valleys where He redefined greatness through humility and called us to the way of surrender and service.

And we’ve watched Him enter Jerusalem not to seize power, but to lay down His life — a King whose throne would be a cross.

Every moment, every teaching, every step has been leading us to this morning.

All of it has been building to this moment… the moment when the story that changes everything reaches its turning point.

Before the sun ever rose… before a single hymn was sung… before anyone whispered “He is risen”… three women walked toward a tomb carrying spices for a dead body. The world was still dark. Their hearts were still heavy. Everything they thought they knew about Jesus seemed buried behind a stone too large for them to move. But while they walked in sorrow, heaven was already moving in power. While they wondered how to reach Him, God had already reached into the grave. And when they arrived at the place where death was supposed to have the final word, they heard the announcement that changed the world forever: “He is not here.”

This is the story that changes everything.

This morning, we join those women on the path to the tomb. We step into the darkness with them. We carry their questions, their grief, their uncertainty.

But we also come ready to hear what they heard… ready to see what they saw… ready to receive the announcement that changed the world.

Let’s turn to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 16, beginning in verse 1, and hear the Word of the Lord.

Mark 16:1–7 NIV

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “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. 7 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.’ ”

Expecting Death verses 1-3 Walking in sorrow Stone too heavy Hope feels gone God already moving

The women came to the tomb expecting death.

They weren’t looking for a miracle. They weren’t anticipating resurrection.

They were carrying spices — the tools of grief — because in their minds, the story was over. Verse 3 tells us what was on their hearts: “Who will roll the stone away?”

That’s the question of people who believe the weight in front of them is too heavy, the darkness too deep, the loss too final.

And maybe that’s where some of us are this morning. Walking in sorrow. Carrying burdens. Facing stones that feel too large to move. Hope feels gone.

But here’s the hope of Easter: God was already moving long before the women arrived.

While they walked in grief, heaven was working in power. While they wondered how to reach Him, God had already reached into the grave.

Easter begins not with our strength, but with God’s initiative. Not with our faith, but with His faithfulness.

Empty Tomb, Risen King Verses 4-6 Stone rolled back Angel announces truth He is risen Glory after cross

When they looked up, everything changed. The stone — the obstacle they feared — had already been rolled away. And inside the tomb, instead of death, they found a messenger of heaven declaring the greatest announcement the world has ever heard: “He has risen! He is not here.”

The empty tomb is not just a symbol.

It is the declaration that Jesus is exactly who He said He was.

The cross was not a defeat — it was the doorway to glory.

The resurrection is God’s stamp of victory over sin, death, and hell. The angel doesn’t say, “He was risen,” as if this were a past event. He says, “He is risen.” Present tense. Ongoing reality.

This is the turning point of the story — and the turning point of every story.

Because if Jesus is alive, then hope is alive. If Jesus is alive, then grace is alive. If Jesus is alive, then nothing in your life is beyond His reach.

Called Forward verse 7 “Tell… and Peter” Grace for failures He goes ahead New life begins

But the resurrection doesn’t leave us standing at an empty tomb.

It calls us forward. The angel says, “Go, tell his disciples and Peter…” — and that little phrase “and Peter” is a sermon all by itself. Peter, the one who denied Him. Peter, the one who failed Him. Peter, the one who thought he was disqualified.

The risen Jesus makes sure the message of grace finds the one who feels furthest away. That’s resurrection love. That’s resurrection mercy.

And then the angel adds, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee.”

The risen Christ doesn’t just forgive our past — He leads us into a new future.

He goes ahead of us.

He prepares the way.

He calls us into new life, new purpose, new hope.

Proclaim the Risen Christ ++He is risen ++Death is broken ++Hope is certain ++Go tell the world

Proclaim the Risen Christ He is risen Death is broken Hope is certain Go tell the world

We proclaim the risen Christ — because the resurrection is not an idea, not a tradition, not a seasonal theme.

It is the living reality of a living Savior. He is risen, and because He is risen, everything has changed.

And that truth is what stirred Pastor Alfred Ackley nearly a century ago. After hearing a young man ask, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” and then listening to a radio preacher say it didn’t matter whether Jesus actually rose from the dead, Ackley couldn’t stay silent. His wife finally said, “Alfred, why don’t you write a song about it?”

And that night, he did — a testimony, a declaration, a proclamation of a Savior who is alive.

So as we close this morning, hear the words he wrote — words that echo the very message we’ve proclaimed today:

He Lives

Verse 1

I serve a risen Savior

He's in the world today

I know that He is living

Whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy

I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him

He's always near

Chorus

He lives He lives

Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives He lives

Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives

He lives within my heart

Alfred Henry Ackley

CCLI Song #17597

© Words: 1933 Homer A. Rodeheaver. Renewed 1961 Curb Word Music; Music: 1933 Homer A. Rodeheaver. Renewed 1961 Curb Word Music

The chorus answers the question the world still asks:

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!!

THAT IS THE STORY THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING!!