"Gone!" Series

TITLE: “GONE”

#6 in the SERIES: “Empty”

MAIN TEXT: Mark 16:1-8

GOOD MORNING! It is RESURRECTION SUNDAY! Boy, do we ever have a reason to rejoice!!! Jesus is alive!!! So, we have no reason to be down, but every reason to be ecstatic! And not just today, but always! For Jesus is alive EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

Now, we have been working on a series titled, EMPTY. And for weeks, we have considered the idea of being EMPTY from every angle in the Gospel of Mark. To be filled up where we are EMPTY inside. As well as, being EMPTIED where we are too full of ourselves, so Christ can fill us! All with the BIG IDEA of being filled with the fullness of Christ!

And along those same lines I want to bring some hope to us all on this RESURRECTION SUNDAY. I want us to know that because there is an EMPTY TOMB, you no longer have to live an EMPTY LIFE!

So, if you are feeling EMPTY or HOPELESS, then you are in the right place! Since Jesus is alive, all the other (empty) stuff can be…

TITLE: “GONE”

Our Goal: Because there is an empty tomb, you no longer have to live an empty life!

There is some good news for you here in the Bible! So, let’s see how this hope and encouragement came to some ordinary people like you and me.

Mark 16:1-8, And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. [2] And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. [3] And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" [4] And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. [5] And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. [6] And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. [7] "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.' " [8] And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

PRAYER:

INTRODUCTION:

As these ladies came to the Tomb of Jesus early on Sabbath morning, their hearts were heavy, defeated and discouraged. Just think, they watched Jesus being crucified on Good Friday, which had to be an excruciating experience. Then, to come and see Him lying dead in a tomb had to be more than overwhelming and unbearable for them.

Not only were they down, but the Disciples were hidden away licking their wounds as well. Their Leader and Friend was dead. Now, they had no purpose or meaning. The Bible tells us that these big, rugged fishermen were mourning and weeping, even days after Jesus died.

I am sure that there are some here today that know what that kind of despair and hopeless can feel like. But I am here to share with you that GOD HAS A REMEDY for those who are down and out!

So, what about you? Have you been riddled with fears? Is hopelessness trying to overwhelm you? Do you know what it is like to be anxious about things you can’t control? Then there is a message here for you this morning! Those things can be GONE in Jesus’ name!

The BIG OBSTACLE that the ladies were concerned about was the stone. But when they got there the STONE was rolled away, it was GONE! And what that means is that Jesus can take away every barrier that the enemy might throw in your way, in this life!

1. Things like the despair of death.

2. Or any efforts your enemies might come against you with.

3. The discouragement or fears that want to overtake your life.

4. Even that thing that might be separating you from the Lord right now.

So, if you need some obstacles to just be GONE today, say “AMEN!” Jesus has an encouraging word for you today, from Mark 16:1-8. We don’t need to be in deep despair or discouragement because Jesus has everything under control! As we will see in a few moments together.

ILLUSTRATION:

A Swedish proverb says, “Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.”

Isn’t that exactly true with all the fretting we do or the sadness we have? We give it way too much credit. And God way too little credit. But, our God is BIG and He is ABLE to help us in the nerve-racking situations that we find ourselves in.