The Gospel of Mark Mark 16:1-13 // The Resurrection / Jesus Appears to His Followers
“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?’ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.” Mark 16:1-13
What do we do when God’s good news seems too good to be true?
The Resurrection Exposes Our Limitation “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?’ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.” Mark 16:1-4
“And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Mark 16:5-8
The Resurrection Feels Frightening
“You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.” Mark 16:6b
Fear is always man’s response to God’s power breaking through.
“In many respects, I find an unresurrected Jesus easier to accept. Easter makes Him dangerous. Because of Easter, I have to listen to His extravagant claims and can no longer pick and choose from His sayings. Moreover, Easter means He must be loose out there somewhere.” Philip Yancey
The Resurrection Seems Doubtful
“…but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” Luke 24:11
The Resurrection is Real
The resurrection of Jesus doesn’t depend on our response.
The Resurrection is a Gracious Invitation
1. To the weary: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
2. To the skeptic: “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” John 20:27
3. To the overlooked: “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’” John 20:16a
4. To the guilty: “But go, tell his disciples and Peter…” Mark 16:7
5. To the believer: “He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11b
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