Resurrection Morn

While Mark doesn’t explicitly state it, the text seems to indicate God is the One who moved the stone. When we push forward in faith, trusting we are in pursuit of God’s will, we believe that He will secure the outcome. The victory was God’s, not the women’s.

The Testimony of the Angel (vv.5-7)

An Alarmed Response

The appearance of the “young man” and the “alarmed” response of the women prove this to be an angelic encounter.

Their response was simultaneously fear and wonder, astonishment and distress.

Place yourself in their shoes — you expect to anoint the body of the One you loved and believed to be the Messiah, and instead God has rolled away the stone before the tomb and an angel stands before you. Talk about shock and awe!

An Awesome Announcement

Three things the angel says:

“Don’t be alarmed.” He first addresses their primary need — they are struck with wonder but captured by fear. They need to hear this message, and in order to do so, they have to be in a receptive state of mind.

Jesus who was crucified, “He has risen!”

This is the resurrection announcement. Everything that Jesus claimed to be is now vindicated by the fact that His prediction about His resurrection has come true. He is THE Messianic King, the Suffering Servant, the Sacrificial Lamb, the Son of God!

The resurrection also ensure new life, eternal life for all who believe in Jesus. His resurrection becomes our confidence that He can save us completely and give us new life.

“See the place where they put Him.” Let’s not miss the significance. Often we sing and proclaim, “The grave is empty!” which obviously is true. But, the empty tomb doesn’t prove the resurrection, the resurrection proves the empty tomb! In this there is now quite a powerful picture — death itself is emptied of its power for Christ has overcome the grave! While the world in disbelief may ask, “What happened to the body of Jesus,” God answered through His angel emphatically — “He has risen!” There is hope to share with a hopeless world — the grave has NOT the final answer!

The Question Before His Followers (v.8)

Seized With Amazement

This is the last verse of Peter’s sermon, so the gospel of Mark originally concludes here. You’ll notice it a rather abrupt and odd ending — “they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.”

Trembling and astonishment literally gripped them, had taken hold of them.

How odd that a Gospel that begins with thunderous proclamation, “The gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,” ends with a silent and depressing note because of the women’s shock and fear.

Silent With Fear

What sad irony, really. Throughout Mark’s gospel when people were commanded to silence, they spoke. Now they are commanded to speak, and the text records their silence.

Barton notes that clearly they eventually said something, so it could be that they were silent along the way, or they waited a bit before saying anything.

But consider a possible theological reminder present in this verse — truth about Jesus does not instantly turn away our fear and cowardice, and fallible human beings are not turned suddenly into faithful and flawless followers. The path to maturity is slow.

But I believe the initial ending also gives way to this:

What would be our response? Though they were initially silent, the message eventually went forth. We are confronted and presented with opportunities to live for Christ and speak of His truth every day. Do we live in fear, content to blend in and say nothing to anyone, or do we embrace Christ, His call to holiness, and His commission to make disciples?

Call to action:

A resurrected Jesus is vindicated in His claims and therefore worthy of our allegiance.