A story is told in which an accountant answered an advertisement for a top job with a large firm. At the end of the interview, the chairman asked, “One last question—what is three times seven?”
The accountant thought for a moment and replied, “Twenty-two.” Outside he checked himself on his calculator and concluded he had lost the job. But two weeks later he was offered the post. He asked the chairman why he had been appointed when he had given the wrong answer. “You were the closest,” the chairman replied. Some people have the mistaken idea that God is like the man who conducted the interview. They think it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re close to the truth.
There are several therioes regarding whether the Lord arose or not and even now there is the theory of Judas who betrayed Jesus, it is said Jesus made a deal with him to betray him so God’s plan would be fulfilled. The Bible reads of Judas’s betrayal and that Christ arose.
Mr 16:1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mr 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.
Mr 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?
Mr 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mr 16:5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Mr 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Mr 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Mr 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
1. They had not PROPERLY understood vs. 1-3
2. They were PUZZLED by the empty tomb vs. 4-6
3. They were to PROCLAIM the new vs. 6
4. The empty tomb PROVES a Risen Savior vs. 6
Mary Magdalene was from the city Magdala in Galilee. From the time she first met Jesus she was a true follower of Him. Why? Because her life had been changed, she was a new person. In Lu 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
1. They had not PROPERLY understood vs. 1-3
a. A very zealous soul-winning young preacher recently came upon a farmer working in his field. Being concerned about the farmer’s soul the preacher asked the man, “Are you labouring in the vineyard of the Lord my good man?”
Not even looking at the preacher and continuing his work the farmer replied, “Naw, these are soybeans.”
“You don’t understand,” said the preacher. “Are you a Christian?”
With the same amount of interest as his previous answer the farmer said, “Nope my name is Jones. You must be looking for Jim Christian. He lives a mile south of here.”
The young determined preacher tried again asking the farmer, “Are you lost?”
“Naw! I’ve lived here all my life,” answered the farmer.
“Are you prepared for the resurrection?” the frustrated preacher asked.
This caught the farmer’s attention and he asked, “When’s it gonna be?”
Thinking he had accomplished something the young preacher replied, “It could be today, tomorrow, or the next day.”
Taking a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiping his brow, the farmer remarked, “Well, don’t mention it to my wife. She don’t get out much and she’ll wanna go all three days.” Communication is important, and understanding what others are saying.
b. The Mary’s had not totally understood what Jesus had told them.
c. They had not understood about Jesus being resurrected and would be gone.
d. Vs. 1…had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
e. ACC And anoint him. Rather, to embalm him. This is a proof that they had not properly understood what Christ had so frequently spoken, that he would rise again the third day. And this inattention or unbelief of theirs is a proof of the truth of the resurrection.
f. John Carnett there must have been a little faith on the part of the two Mary’s. Knowing that the stone was there, knowing it had been sealed up… they must have believed, or at least hoped in the back of their minds that something had happened. That something had finally gone right. Because they were already on their way when they asked the question, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance?”
g. Mr 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?
h. Randy Aly • We find Mary and other women on the way to the tomb to anoint Jesus with spices.
• They still were wrestling with some issues.
• They knew there was a stone to deal with.
While they did not understand, when they arrived they were puzzled at what they saw.
2. They were PUZZLED by the empty tomb vs. 4-6
i. They were expecting to find the stone still there at the tomb; they were trying to decide how they should approach what they were expecting to be insurmountable difficulties.
j. There are problems in life in which we can see no way through, there is no way around, we try to figure it out ourselves, but we, in our human strength cannot do anything to help ourselves through it. We must rely on the heavenly power to see us through and most of us are puzzled when we make it through. I would say we should all be able to relate with the both Mary’s in being puzzled with things working out.
k. ACC - Verse 4. For it was very great “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? for it was very great. And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away." They knew that the stone was too heavy for them to roll away; and, unless they got access to the body, they could not apply the aromas (perfumes) which they had brought to finish the embalming.
After a puzzling suprize the angel said go proclaim the news.
3. They were to PROCLAIM the news vs. 6
l. Garth Hansen - The women however are likely not prepared to hear what the [Angel] is about to tell them next. Surprise! Surprise! “He has been raised; he is not here.” Then, to drive his point home further, he invites the women to look around at the empty tomb so they could see for themselves exactly where his dead body had been laid.
However, the [angel] concludes his revelation by now giving the women the instruction to “go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
m. John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
n. Vs. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee
o. Mt 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
p. PNTC - Neither said they anything to any man. That is, on their way to tell the disciples.
q. They were seized with astonishment, and did not want to tell anyone except the disciples…..knowing they would possibly be the only ones to believe them.
r. Chris Easton - For four hours he held the cylinder, waiting for rescue or an immediate death. After digging up what appeared to be an unexploded WWI bomb, David Page held on to it, afraid that letting go would detonate the device.
While holding the bomb, the terrified 40-year-old from Norfolk, England, called an emergency operator on his mobile phone. He even used the call to issue his last words for his family. "The woman police operator kept saying it would be okay," said Page, "but I kept saying to her, ’You’re not the one holding the bomb.’"
First responders rushed to the work-yard in eastern England, and army bomb disposal experts finally arrived. But the drama came to an abrupt end when the "bomb" was identified. It was part of the hydraulic suspension system from a Citroen, a popular European car.
There are times we find ourselves frozen with irrational fear. We know that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world, but we forget the strength of our Protector while clutching our fear. Let go. It’s not a bomb, and you’re going to be okay!
Today we are talking about the greatest event in world History. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ! How can such a great thing drive us to fear. After today you will find we are not alone in our fear of proclaiming the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Hopefully after today though, this fear will be replaced by empowerment and will give us all strength to shine through our dark world boldly.
s. As the Mary’s were going to tell the disciples, they were struck with a fear, a shock, an amazement of what had happened. [I wonder what is going to happen to some of us when our church takes off and starts really growing. Are you going to be in amazement? We have consistently spoken of how God is going to help us. Do you really believe it? Will you be shocked when you walk in some service and see brand new converts or your family and friends here to worship God?] They had been told about how he would raise from the tomb, but it seems they didn’t really believe wholly.
Let’s proclaim to the world the tomb is empty
4. The empty tomb PROVES a Risen Savior vs. 6
t. Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
u. Henri J. Nouwen writes in the March 1994 New Oxford Review: "A few years ago Bob, the husband of a friend of mine, died suddenly of a heart attack. My friend decided to keep her two young children away from the funeral. She thought it would be too hard for them to see their father put in the ground. For years after Bob’s death the cemetery remained a fearful and a dangerous place for them.
"Then, one day, my friend asked me to visit the grave with her, and invited the children to come along. The elder one was too afraid to go, but the younger one decided to come with us. When we came to the place where Bob was buried, the three of us sat down on the grass around the stone engraved with the words, ’A kind and gentle man.’ As we sat, we reminisced about Bob.
"I said: ’Maybe one day we should have a picnic here. This is not only a place to think about death, but also a place to rejoice in our life. I think Bob will be most honored when we find new strength, here, to live.’ At first it seemed a strange idea: having a meal on top of a tombstone.!
"A few days later my friend took her elder child to the grave, the younger one having convinced his sister that there was nothing to fear. Now they often go to the cemetery and tell each other stories about Bob."
v. We don’t have to gather at a grave to remember the death of our Savior we can speak of what he is doing in our lives right now. He is alive!
w. Mary Magnalene and Mary the mother of Jesus was there at the tomb….they saw the empty tomb, they saw the angel and was told to go tell the disciples. The realization would later sink in regarding a their Lord had risen, what had been told to them before was coming to fruition.
x. Ray Scott - “Resurrection Day” OUGHT to be an emotional time. Our minds ought to be on the CROSS … AND … on the RESURRECTION of Jesus. Our minds ought to be ON … His suffering and death … paying the price for OUR SIN. Our minds ought to bee ON … His VICTORY over sin & death … RESURRECTION.
y. Mt 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
i. Acc – This was a new tomb and it was like all other Jewish tombs. Nothing special, but the angel said come see [as if to say…come see for yourself what I am saying] He is risen, no need for sorrowing, no need for mourning….HE IS RISEN.
ii. I like how Mr. Scott puts it;
iii. IF … the resurrection isn’t true … THEN:
• Jesus isn’t the Messiah … He was a LIAR (yet many consider Him a good moral teacher).
• Millions have been deceived … God is a liar.
• I have … been deceived … along with D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, [John Wesley], Billy Graham …
AND … IF there is no resurrection … THEN …
• There is no hope.
• Everyone is eternally damned.
• There is no salvation … no Heaven … no God … no HOPE!
IF … Jesus HASN’T RISEN … THEN …
• WHY do I enjoy FELLOWSHIP w/ Him?
• WHY do I have the PEACE He offers me? (the peace the unbelievers don’t have).
• WHY do I have the inner assurance that my SINS are FORGIVEN?
• WHY do I look forward to an eternal home in HEAVEN?
Jesus is Risen, We serve a RISEN savior, we have a Savior that hears us and answers our prayers, we don’t serve an idol of stone, we don’t serve Mohammad, we don’t worship Baal, we don’t serve a God who can’t hear us. We serve a RISEN Lord who sits on the right side of the Father to intercede for us. We have access into the Holy of Holies, we don’t have to sacrifice the spotless lamb, The blood has been shed for us and if you have that blood applied to your heart this morning you can celebrate a RISEN savior.
