New Beginnings, Empty Tomb Edition

New Beginnings, Empty Tomb Edition

Mark 16

Good morning, He is Risen.

Merriam Webster's dictionary defines beginning as “the point at which something starts.” New beginnings could be defined as a new start.”

A LinkedIn article said, “New Beginnings give you the freedom to make choices for yourself and to know your worth once again.

While these statements sound good for a New Year’s resolution, the only way we can truly have a new beginning is by accepting the New Beginning which happened on Resurrection Morning.

Please open your Bibles to Mark 16, as we return to that study.

Last time we learned on the “The sixth hour” (noon) there was total darkness as Jesus hung on the Cross and at “the ninth hour” (3:00 PM), Jesus died, and creation began to mourn its Creator.

As the sin from all eternity was placed on Jesus on the Cross and the Father turned His back because He could not look upon sin.

John 19:30 when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

“It is finished” is one word in Greek, “tetelestai” and it literally means paid in full. Jesus fully paid for sin on the Cross.

With His last breath, Jesus wanted mankind to know that the work of redemption was complete before He gave up His Spirit.

Finally, we read how the King was placed in a rich man’s tomb.

The Bible says the Cross was not simply an act of injustice on the part of men, but it was Jesus’ substitutionary suffering.

Jesus assumed our place, taking God's judgment for sin, by placing His own body upon the cross. But there is no Tomb on planet earth fit for our King, so He rose again on the third day!

Today, we will finish Mark and learn what happened to Jesus after the Jewish leaders, the Roman leaders, and even His closest followers, thought the story was over after the crucifixion.

I. A Sunday morning for the books.

Read Mark 16:1-5

Notice, the day after the Sabbath, Jesus rose on Sunday. This is why most Evangelical churches meet on Sunday as well.

The Gospel of John tells us it was still dark outside, and we also know that particular day was the Jewish holiday of Firstfruits, which was a day of thanksgiving for God’s provision.

The celebration of Firstfruits happened 50 days before Pentecost and this paints such a wonderful picture of what happened that day in the life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was the Firstfruits offering of God. He was the first of all the people who will rise from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. NKJV

Jesus’ Resurrection paved the way for our resurrection, since He is the Firstfruits from God of people who will rise from the dead. We know we will rise again once we die physically.

Pentecost is seven weeks after the Feast of First Fruits, that is why it is called Pentecost which means “50 days.”

The Resurrection shows the difference between the Old Testament Firstfruits harvest of grain and the New Testament harvest of souls.

That particular year, Pentecost happened 50 days after Jesus rose from the grave and that is when Peter preached his first sermon.

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. NKJV

Acts 2:41 shows the first harvest of souls in the New Testament Church.

The morning Jesus rose, the two Mary’s and Salome came to the tomb and the guards were still there, making sure no one could steal the body of Jesus Christ.

These women came with embalming spices to prepare the body of Jesus for a proper burial. The women were full of grief and sadness as they thought about Jesus’ final resting place.

The women asked each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us to access the Tomb?” But when they got to the Tomb, the stone was already moved from the door.

Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. NKJV

Notice there was an earthquake as an angel showed up on the scene. In Mark 16:5, the women met an angel in human form, and his appearance was so striking that they were alarmed.