MARK 16 1-8.THE RESURRECTION – REAL HOPE FOR A HURTING WORLD.
ON FEBRUARY 6 1958 A CHARTERED PLANE CARRYING MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM KNOWN AS THE BUSBY BABES CRASHED ON TAKE OFF FROM MUNICH IN GERMANY. WITH SO MANY OF THEIR STARS PLAYERS LOST, SOME DESPAIRED OVER PROSPECTS FOR THE CLUBS SURVIVAL. YET TODAY MAN UTD OUT OF THE ASHES OF THAT CRASH AS COME ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN AND MOST SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE WORLD. FITTINGLY, THE MAN WHO REBUILT THE TEAM SURVIVED THE CRASH SIR MATT BUSBY.
• NEARLY 2000 YEARS AGO, THE ARREST OF JESUS AND HIS SUBSEQUENT CRUCIFIXION AND BURIAL, CAUSED MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS TO DESPAIR TO GIVE UP ALL HOPE. THEY TO WERE IN A STATE OF SHOCK, JESUS HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED AND WAS BURIED IN A TOMB. ALL THEIR DREAMS AND HOPES FOR THE FUTURE SHATTERED, ALL HOPE HAD GONE.
• BUT THEIR DESPONDENCY EVAPORATED ON THAT FIRST EASTER MORNING WHEN THEY FOUND THE STONE ROLLED AWAY, JESUS HAD RISEN!
• THE RESURRECTION TO ME PUTS EVERYTHING INTO PERSPECTIVE NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS BECOME OUR WORLD MIGHT LITERALLY CRASH AROUND US – THERE IS STILL REAL HOPE – BECAUSE JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE TOMB – THIS IS OUR SOLID FOUNDATION TO LIFE AND DEATH AND REAL TANGIBLE HOPE, OFTEN IN THE MIDST OF DESPAIR.
THIS RESURRECTION IS JAM PACKED WITH AUTHENTICITY – SET IN THE REAL WORLD - IF MARK HAD CONTRIVED THIS STORY HE WOULD HAVE NICELY PACKAGED IT FOR US - BUT JUST LOOK - ITS FULL OF DESPAIR - FEAR – ALARM – BEWILDERMENT AND AT THE HEART HE PLACES WOMEN AS THE FIRST CREDIBLE WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION - NO ONE WOULD TAKE THEIR TESTIMONY AS CREDIBLE IN THE 1ST CENTURY THEY WERE 2ND CLASS CITIZENS . AND THEY CLEARLY DIDN’T EXPECT THE RESURRECTION THEY WENT TO ANOINT A DEAD BODY - EVEN THOUGH JESUS HAD TOLD THEM ALL ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD!
THE WHOLE SITUATION HAS LEFT THEM AFRAID AND BEWILDERED; THE WOMEN WENT OUT AND FLED FROM THE TOMB. IT ENDS SO ABRUPTLY WITH THE WOMEN SAYING NOTHING TO ANYONE. THIS TESTIMONY BEARS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF AUTHENTIC RESURRECTION. MARK IS LEAVING US HERE WITH A SENSE OF AWE AND WONDER. AS THE SUN HAS RISEN THAT FIRST EASTER MORNING - SO THE SON OF GOD WILL RISE IN THE HEARTS OF THESE WOMEN BRINGING REAL HOPE.
ANYBODY WHO REMAINS DEVOTED TO JESUS THROUGH THE DARK TIMES WILL BE REWARDED WITH REAL HOPE - THE RESURRECTION BRINGS. SO LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEIR DEVOTION WAS DEMONSTRATED TOWARDS JESUS.
1. THE WOMEN PERSEREVERED WITH JESUS 1- 3.
THE WOMEN REMAINED DEVOTED TO JESUS THROUGH THE DARKEST TIMES. THEY WERE WITH JESUS THROUGHOUT HIS MINISTRY - THEIR LOVE FOR JESUS HAD LASTED AND STOOD THE TEST OF TIME THEY WERE THERE WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED THE DARKEST POINT WHEN OTHERS HAD FLED 15:40 – THEY WERE THERE WHEN THE BODY HAD BEEN TAKEN DOWN AND PLACED IN THE TOMB 15:47 AND THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PERSEVERE SHOWING THEIR DEVOTION AS THEY GO TO ANOINT THE BODY.
WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST, AT A TIME OF GRIEF - IT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE THE BRIGHTEST POINT OF ALL. THROUGH THE GOOD TIMES – AND THROUGH THE BAD THE LOVE FOR JESUS HAD LASTED.
A) IN OUR DARKEST TIMES: SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERY HARD FOR US, AT THE LOSE OF A LOVED ONE, A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, SUDDEN ILLNESS , A DIVORCE, A LOSS OF A JOB, BANKRUPTCY. AND IT CAN FILL US WITH QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS - BUT WITH A REAL DEVOTION TO GOD WE WILL PERSERVERE – BECAUSE LIKE THESE WOMEN WHO FOUND OUT:
“IT WASN’T JESUS WHO DIED THAT NIGHT BUT DEATH”. HE HAS RISEN AND SO JESUS IS ABLE TO REBUILD OUR LIVES, WE TOO CAN RISE UP OUT OF ALL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES..
• (1788-1850 BAPTIST) ADONIRAM JUDSON : HERE WAS A MAN WHO LOST TWO WIVES - FOUR CHILDREN - IMPRISONED FOR TWO YEARS IN BURMA- SEVERE PERSECUTION –NOT A SINGLE CONVERT FOR SIX YEARS. YET HE COULD WRITE “THE MOTTO OF EVERY MISSIONARY, WHETHER PREACHER, PRINTER OR SCHOOLMASTER, OUGHT TO BE “DEVOTED FOR LIFE.”
B) WE ALSO LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE DEVOTION TO JESUS CAN OFTEN BE VERY TRANSIENT AND SUPERFICIAL, AS SOON AS THINGS BECOME DIFFICULT OR SINFUL HABITS ARE EMBRACED THEY WALK AWAY FROM THE FAITH.
I AM SURE WE HAVE ALL WITNESSED PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID, “ I USED TO BELIEVE IN BUT HOW COULD A LOVING GOD LET THIS OR THE OTHER HAPPEN?” “I USED TO BELIEVE , BUT WHEN A SO CALLED CHRISTIAN DID THAT, I JUST GAVE UP.” “I USED TO BELIEVE BUT JESUS BECAME SO RESTRICTING FOR MY LIFESTYLE.””
FRIENDS THESE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE RESURRECTION, THE GOD THEY HAVE WORSHIPPED IS NOT THE GOD OF THE RESURRECTION. BUT THE GOD OF RELIGION, A MAN MADE GOD. AT THIS POINT THEY ARE LIKE THESE DISCIPLES LOCKED AWAY – DISTANT FROM JESUS - TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT JESUS IS ABOUT - TO THEM JESUS IS DEAD – AND THEY NEED TO START REBUILDING THEIR OWN LIVES – JESUS HAS FAILED THEM HE HASN’T DELIVERED THE GOODS.
IF THAT IS YOU THIS EASTER MORNING YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THE RESURRECTION CAN STILL HAPPEN TO YOU - AS THE WOMEN WERE TO RETURN TO THE MEN WITH THE GOOD NEWS. SO TI AM SPEAKING TO YOU HE HAS RISEN REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS!
FRIENDS ANYBODY CAN SAY THEY ARE DEVOTED TO JESUS, BUT TO BE DEVOTED TO JESUS IN THE GOOD AND THE BAD TIMES WILL BE THE REAL TEST WILL YOU REMAIN DEVOTED TO JESUS IN THOSE DARK AND DIFFICULT TIMES. IS YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS REAL , WILL IT PERSEVERE? 1COR13:4 – 7 REAL LOVE PERSEVERES. THE RESURRECTION ENABLES US TO BE DEVOTED THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD.
THE RESURRECTION TEACHES US WHATEVER OBSTACLES AND PRESSURES ARE PLACED UPON US – WHEN SAD AND BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES, THE RESURRECTION WILL ENABLE OUR LIVES TO BE REBUILT - AS HE DID FOR THESE WOMEN. SO REMAIN DEVOTED PERSEVERE WITH JESUS – DON’T THROUGH IN THE TOWEL. FOR HE HAS RISEN! AND OUT OF THE WRECKAGE, REAL HOPE IS AVAILABLE. JESUS CAN REBUILD OUR LIVES!
C) THEIR DEVOTION IS ALL ABOUT SACRIFICE V1.
THE WOMEN HAD BOUGHT SPICES ON THE SATURDAY EVENING AFTER THE SABBATH HAD ENDED AND WERE PREPARED FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO GO AND ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS. THERE WAS NO CALCULATION OF HOW MUCH COULD BE SPENT IT WAS A RESPONSE OF THE HEART. (FUNERAL’S YOU OFTEN SEE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FLOWERS, PEOPLE ARE SHOWING THEIR LOVE, DEVOTION TO THE DEPARTED OFTEN IN LAVISH WAYS EXPENSE ISN’T AN OPTION.)
WE READ THAT NICODEMUS HAD ALREADY ANOINTED THE BODY WITH 75 POUNDS WORTH OF MYRRH AND ALOES (JHN19:39) AND YET THEY WERE TO DO IT AS WELL, WHY? BECAUSE THAT WAS NICODEMUS LOVE DEMONSTRATED NOT THEIRS, THEY MUST BRING THEIR OWN LAVISH GIFT.
ARE WE DEVOTED ENOUGH TO LAVISH THE BEST OF WHAT WE HAVE TOWARDS JESUS, FROM OUR OWN PERSONAL RESOURCES, THAT IT MIGHT BRING GLORY UPON HIM, DO WE BRING OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD BACK TO HIM?
THIS ACT OF THESE WOMEN REMINDS ME OF AN EARLIER OCCASION, WHEN MARY ANOINTED JESUS WITH OIL, IN PREPERATION FOR HIS BURIAL, THIS WAS PURE NARD FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF INDIA A FAMILY HEIRLOOM WORTH A YEARS WAGES, THE DISCIPLES WERE INDIGNANT AND SUCH A WASTE, SO JESUS REBUKES THEM MRK 14: 1- 6 LEAVE HER ALONE, SHE HAS DONE A BEAUTIFUL THING FOR ME .
THIS LAVISH ACT OF MARY CHALLENGES US ALL STILL TODAY.
• WHAT BEAUTIFUL THING HAVE YOU DONE TODAY ALL FOR JESUS?
THE FRAGRANCE OF THAT PERFUME AND SPICES SHOULD PERMEATE GODS CHURCH WITH LAVISH ACTS OF CHRISTIAN DEVOTION.
AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE CALLED TO OFFER OURSELVES AS LIVING SACRIFICES (EVERYTHING) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF TOTAL SURRENDER AND DEVOTION - A PLACE WHERE WE PUT OURSELVES ON THE ALTER OF SACRIFICE - AND SHOW OUR DEVOTION WHEN WE DO THIS IT WILL EFFECT OTHERS.
BAPTIST PREACHER, DR. GEORGE W. TRUETT, WAS HELPING A STRUGGLING CONGREGATION RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR CHURCH BUILDING. THEY STILL NEEDED $6500. TRUETT FOUND THE RESPONSE WEAK. WITH ONLY $3000 PLEDGED HE SAID IN EXASPERATION, “DO YOU EXPECT ME TO GIVE THE OTHER $3500 NEEDED TO REACH YOUR GOAL? I’M JUST A GUEST HERE TODAY.” SUDDENLY, A WOMAN NEAR THE BACK STOOD. LOOKING AT HER HUSBAND SEATED ON THE PLATFORM RECORDING PLEDGES, SHE SAID IN A SHAKING VOICE, “CHARLIE, I WONDER IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING FOR US TO GIVE OUR LITTLE HOME? WE WERE OFFERED EXACTLY $3500 CASH FOR IT YESTERDAY. IF THE SAVIOUR GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US, SHOULDN’T WE MAKE THIS SACRIFICE FOR HIM?”
TRUETT REPORTED THAT THE FINE HUSBAND RESPONDED WITH EQUAL GENEROSITY. “YES, JENNIE, I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.” TURNING TO TRUETT, HE SAID, “BROTHER TRUETT, IF IT’S NEEDED, WE’LL RAISE OUR PLEDGE BY $3500.” SILENCE REIGNED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THEN SOME OF THE FOLKS BEGAN TO SOB. THOSE WHO FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER HAD REFUSED TO DO MORE NOW EITHER ADDED THEIR NAMES TO THE LIST OR INCREASED THEIR DONATIONS. IN A SHORT TIME, THEIR GOAL HAD BEEN ACHIEVED, AND CHARLIE AND JENNIE DIDN’T HAVE TO FORFEIT THEIR HOME. THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE HAD STIMULATED OTHERS TO SIMILAR GENEROSITY. LESLIE B. FLYNN, IN RESOURCE, JULY/AUGUST, 1990
THE PERFUME AND SPICES THAT OTHERS BROUGHT TO ANOINT JESUS - NEED TO BE THE PERFUME AND SPICES OF SACRIFICE THAT PERMEATE GODS CHURCH. THE SONG WRITER JAMES WRIGHT WROTE, ALL THAT I AM, I LAY BEFORE YOU: ALL I POSSESS, LORD I CONFESS IS NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SAVIOUR AND KING, I NOW ENTHRONE YOU; TAKE MY LIFE, MY LIVING SACRIFICE TO YOU.
A. THE WOMEN’S DEVOTION OVERCAME OBSTACLES. V2
THEY HAD BOUGHT THE SPICES AS THE SABBATH HAD ENDED AND OVERNIGHT THEY HAD DISCUSSED AND ARRANGED WHEN AND WHERE THEY WOULD MEET AND THEY DID NOT SLEEP IN BUT VERY EARLY THEY WERE UP, AS THE SUN WAS RISING THE MIST WAS CLEARING THEY WERE EAGER TO GET TO THE TOMB!
IN THEIR EAGERNESS WE SEE THESE WOMEN FOLLOWED THEIR HEARTS AND NOT THEIR HEADS, AS THEY GO TO ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS SOMETHING FINALLY DAWNS UPON THEM “WHO WILL ROLL THE STONE AWAY?
LET’S REMEMBER THESE WOMEN HAD SEEN JESUS CRUCIFIED (15:40) THEY HAD SEEN HIM PLACED IN THE TOMB AND THE STONE ROLLED OVER THE ENTRANCE. (15:47) YET THEY CONTINUE TO GO TO THE TOMB TO ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS. WHY?
OBSTACLES CAN BE REMOVED: WITH FAITH OBSTACLES CAN BE REMOVED: THAT’S THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WILL SERVE DESPITE THE OBSTACLES, CALLED TO TAKE UP OUR CROSSES CALLED ‘ TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT’ BELIEVING FAITH THAT GOD WILL REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES
ARE WE DRIVEN BY FAITH? DO WE PRESS ON, DESPITE ALL THE OBSTACLES, EVEN THOUGH IN OUR MINDS WE STRUGGLE TO SEE THE ANSWER? ANYBODY WHO HAS SUCCEEDED FOR GOD HAS FACED OBSTACLES IN MANY SHAPES AND FORMS BUT EAGER TO SERVE GOD THEY HAVE GONE FORWARD BELIEVING THAT GOD IS GREATER THAN ANY OBSTACLE.
2. THE ANGEL’S DECLARATION V6 – 8.
1. A SUDDEN NEWS FLASH – SEPT 11- PRINCESS DIANA - THE GREATEST NEWS FLASH - LEFT THESE WOMEN GOBSMACKED – AFRAID – BUT WE ARE NOT TO BE –IT’S GOOD NEWS .
BUT HERE IS FAR GREATER NEWS FOR THE WORLD AS A WHOLE HAS EVER BEEN HEARD BY HUMAN EARS. WHICH THESE WOMEN WERE INITIALLY PRIVY TOO:
THE ANGEL SAID DON’T BE ALARMED, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS OF NAZARENE, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE HAS RISEN: HE IS NOT HERE. SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE LAID HIM V6.
DO NOT BE ALARMED - GOING TO GRIEVE OVER THEIR LORD AND TO ANOINT A BODY AND CONFRONTED WITH AN ANGEL , AN EMPTY TOMB IS ALL CAUSE FOR ALARM IS IT NOT? IT’S NOT THE NATURAL CAUSE OF EVENTS?
BUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR US ARE SIMPLE JESUS HAS BEEN VICTORIOUS, DEATH HAS BEEN DESTROYED, SIN HAS BEEN VANQUISHED AND THE GRAVE HAS BEEN CONQUERED.
WE NO LONGER NEED TO FEAR DEATH, BECAUSE OUR SINS HAVE BEEN PAID FOR - AS PAUL STATES ROM 4:25. CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO PUT’S THEIR TRUST IN HIM WILL BE RAISED TO ETERNAL LIFE.
2. THE ANGEL’S DIRECTIVE V7
SURELY THE ANGELS DIRECTIVE TO THE WOMEN IS OUR DIRECTIVE TO OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AROUND US, WITH THIS EXCITING NEWS V7 BUT GO, TELL THE DISCIPLES AND PETER, HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU INTO GALILEE.
ARE WE LIKE PETER V7.
• IS THERE A PETER HERE WHO IS DISTANT FROM THE LORD? FEEL AS THOUGH YOU HAVE FAILED GOD IN SOME WAY - IN THE GRIP OF DESPAIR .... WHO NEEDS THE REASSURANCE OF THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION IN THEIR LIVES?
• YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS, THAT THE LORD WILL NEVER FAIL YOU, HE DIED YOUR DEATH HE PAID FOR YOUR SINS, HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU, HE HAS RISEN.... HE IS CALLING OUT TO YOU AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW HE IS ALIVE AND VALUES AND REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SITUATION.
JESUS UNDERSTANDS: PET SHOP ’PUPPIES FOR SALE.’ A LITTLE BOY ASKS HOW MUCH THE PUPPIES FROM ARE £30-£50." THE LITTLE BOY REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AND PULLED OUT SOME CHANGE. "I HAVE £5:00 CAN I HAVE A LOOK AT THEM?" THE STORE OWNER SMILED AND WHISTLED AND OUT OF THE KENNEL CAME LADY, WHO RAN DOWN THE AISLE OF HIS STORE FOLLOWED BY FIVE TEENY, TINY BALLS OF FUR. ONE PUPPY WAS LAGGING CONSIDERABLY BEHIND. IMMEDIATELY THE LITTLE BOY SINGLED OUT THE LAGGING, LIMPING PUPPY AND SAID "WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT LITTLE DOG?" THE STORE OWNER EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE PUPPY WAS BORN, THE VET HAD SAID THAT THE PUPPY HAD NO HIP SOCKET AND WOULD LIMP FOR THE REST OF ITS LIFE. THE LITTLE BOY GOT REALLY EXCITED AND SAID "THAT’S THE PUPPY I WANNA BUY!"
THE STORE OWNER REPLIED "NO, YOU DON’T WANNA BUY THAT LITTLE DOG. IF YOU REALLY WANT HIM, I’LL GIVE HIM TO YOU." THE LITTLE BOY GOT QUITE UPSET. HE LOOKED STRAIGHT INTO THE STORE OWNER’S EYES, POINTING HIS FINGER AND SAID, "I DON’T WANT YOU TO GIVE HIM TO ME. THAT LITTLE DOG IS WORTH EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS THE OTHER DOGS AND I’LL PAY THE FULL PRICE. IN FACT, I’LL GIVE YOU £5:00 NOW AND £1 EVERY WEEK UNTIL I HAVE HIM PAID FOR."
THE STORE OWNER COUNTERED, "YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO BUY THIS PUPPY. HE IS NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO RUN, JUMP AND PLAY LIKE OTHER PUPPIES!"
TO THIS THE LITTLE BOY REACHED DOWN AND ROLLED UP HIS PANT LEG TO REVEAL A BADLY TWISTED, CRIPPLED LEFT LEG SUPPORTED BY A BIG METAL BRACE. HE LOOKED UP AT THE STORE OWNER AND SAID SOFTLY, "WELL, I DON’T RUN SO WELL MYSELF, AND THE LITTLE PUPPY WILL NEED SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS."
IN LIFE SO OFTEN WE THINK THERE ISN’T ANYBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS OUR SITUATION OR CARES, BUT LIKE THE LITTLE BOY- JESUS UNDERSTANDS HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR US HE PAID THE FULL PRICE FOR YOUR SALVATION - HE CARES FOR YOU AND UNDERSTANDS YOUR SITUATION – THAT’S WHY HE DIED FOR YOU AND WAS RAISED FORM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY TO GIVE YOU REAL HOPE.
• PETER NEEDED TO HEAR THIS EXCITING AND REASSURING NEWS - MAYBE YOU DO TOO - FRESH OPPORTUNITIES AWAITED PETER TO SERVE THE RISEN LORD, PETER WOULD BE BROUGHT OUT OF HIS FEARS AND OUT OF HIS DESPAIR BECAUSE JESUS CARED ENOUGH TO DIE -L DRAW ALONGSIDE.
GO AND TELL THE OTHERS.
• THIS DIRECTIVE IS ALSO OUR DIRECTIVE, THE SAME AS JESUS GAVE TO HIS DISCIPLES: MARK 16: 15 HE SAID TO THEM GO INTO THE ENTIRE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL CREATION.
• THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND WITH NO HOPE AT ALL, MAYBE EVEN AMONGST US WHO HAVE NOT AWAKENED TO THE HOPE THAT THE RESURRECTION BRINGS. ARE YOU DISTANT FROM GOD WITH NO HOPE - OTHER THAN THE THINGS IN THIS LIFE – YOUR HOME – YOUR FAMILY – YOUR JOB – YOUR MARRIAGE HERE ARE WHERE ALL YOUR HOPES ARE PLACED - BUT OFTEN OUR GRASP ON THESE THINGS SLOWLY SLIP AND WHEN ALL THESE THINGS ARE LOST AND THEY WILL BE, WHERE WILL YOU TURN IN YOUR DISTRESS?
• THIS MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION IS A MESSAGE OF REAL HOPE, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY. JESUS DEMONSTRATED THE DEPTH OF HIS DEVOTION TO A WORLD CUT OFF FROM GOD HOW MUCH HE CARES FOR US – GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD!
• THE WOMEN ARE EXAMPLE TO US OF REAL DEVOTION IN THE FACE OF DIFFICULT TIMES.
• THE DECLARATION AND DIRECTIVE OF THE ANGEL IS A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO A WORLD WHICH IS LOST AND IN THE BRACE OF ALL SORT OF DOUBTS DESPAIR AND DISCOURAGEMENT IN LIFE.
• JESUS BRINGS HOPE TO US ALL TO CONTINUE NOT UNDER OUR OWN STRENGTH BUT IN THE RESURRECTION POWER WE HAVE RECEIVED, THESE DISCIPLES WERE TRANSFORMED PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH REAL HOPE, IN THE MIDST OF A DIFFICULT WORLD. THEY PERSEVERED BEING DEVOTED TO JESUS IN DIFFICULT TIMES BECAUSE THEY HAD REAL HOPE.
• SURELY THE RESURRECTION IS ALL ABOUT REAL HOPE IN A HURTING WORLD........
