The Wonderful Resurrection
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning we come to the last chapter of the book of Mark. Last week we left Jesus hastily buried, and in a borrowed Tomb. The last verse of chapter 15 says:
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
You may remember that Sabbath was about to begin—it is sundown on Friday.
During the Sabbath, Jews could not do much. So the ladies could not properly prepare Jesus body for burial. So they waited!
At sundown on Saturday, it was too dark to head to the tomb, so the women began to gather together all the spices that they were going to need. Look at verse 1 of Mark chapter 17.
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.
After buying the spices on Saturday night, there is nothing else to do but to wait! Impatiently wait for the sun to peek over the horizon, and beginning to cast its light across the land.
At Sunrise
At Sunrise
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
While everyone else is still sleeping the women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joses and James, and Salome—who some believe was the mother of James & John and the sister of Jesus’ mother, head out to the tomb to properly prepare Jesus’ body burial.
As they walk along, they begin to discuss how they are going to get the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. It’s big, heavy, and they are a few women. They are no match for the big rock!
Let’s continue with the story.
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
When they come around the corner and see the tomb, they notice something! The tomb is open—that’s right the stone has been rolled away.
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
Can you imagine expecting to see the tomb empty—wondering what happened to Jesus’ body. But when they enter the tomb, they see a “young man” dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side of the tomb.
They see an angel, and they are alarmed—the Greek says very excited, astonished, frightened. Perhaps that’s why the angel says:
“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.’ ”
Don’t be alarmed—afraid.
The angel knows they are looking for Jesus the Nazarene.
He shows them that the place they laid Jesus is empty—I bet they already saw that!
Then he gives the women a message: Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
But the scared women run away from the tomb—and they said NOTHING to the disciples. Fear kept them from telling the good news!
Now some older manuscripts stop after verse 8. Beginning with verse 9 we have several other stories of encounters with Jesus.
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
Jesus talked to Mary Magdalene
Out of whom Jesus had driven out seven demons.
She went back and told Jesus’ followers that she had seen Him, but they did not believe her!
The Two Walking in the Country
The Two Walking in the Country
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
This is probably the two on the road to Emmaus (c.f. Lk 24:13-33).
They returned to report it to the rest of the disciples.
But they didn’t believe them either.
Jesus Appears to the Eleven
Jesus Appears to the Eleven
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
I love it, Jesus rebuked them for not believe—after He told them exactly what was going to happen.
He says it was due to two things:
Their lack of faith
And their stubborn refusal to believe those who saw Him.
Their Commissioning
Their Commissioning
(c.f. Matthew 28:19-20)
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Go into all the world
Preach the good news to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.
Whoever doesn’t believe will be condemned. John 3:17, says they are already condemned.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Signs will accompany those who believe:
Drive out demons.
Speak in new languages.
Pick up snakes without getting hurt.
Drink deadly poison without getting hurt.
They will heal the sick.
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
The Lord was taken up into heaven.
And sat at the right hand of God.
Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Three things happened:
The disciples went out and preached the good news of Jesus everywhere.
The Lord worked through them.
They did the miracles in verses 17 & 18.
So What?
So What?
Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead we can experience the forgiveness of sin. 1 John 1:9.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
The thing is we all have sinned and need forgiveness. Romans 3:23 tells us that we have all sinned.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Then in Romans 6:23 we learn that sin causes death. Look at it.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If the Good News stopped there, it wouldn’t be very good news. But that’s where Romans 5:8 comes in.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Now that’s good news! But Romans doesn’t stop there. In Romans 10:9-10 and 13 is the good news gets even better!
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, I would encourage you to accept His free gift of forgiveness of sin, and a right relationship with God today. There is no better way to say, “Thank you” than to accept Jesus today.
Maybe you have already accepted Jesus as your Savior, is He your Lord? The Master, the Ruler, the One who is in charge of you? If not then I want to challenge you with the words of Peter. The first part of 1 Peter 3:15 says:
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV84)
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord
You and I need to set our hearts apart so that Jesus is the Lord of your life.
This morning, we have been celebrating our Risen Lord! There is no better way to celebrate Easter than to celebrate the ordinance He established the night He was betrayed.
I’m going to ask our deacons and some of our church leaders to come and prepare the table.
Right now it is covered just as Jesus was wrapped in linen in the tomb. As they prepare the table, I want to remind us of the requirements to participate.
First you must know Jesus as your Savior and be seeking to make Him your Lord. If this description fits you, then I encourage you to participate with us.
But Paul went on to tells us that when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper that we need to do it with a clean heart.
[PRAYER]