Triumph at the Tomb
Mark 16: 1-8
Today is a special day in the hearts of believers around the world. It is the day we celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord, the very foundation of the Christian faith.
It was a glorious day when the angel proclaimed to the shepherds that the Messiah had come to earth. I am thankful for His virgin birth, but without the finished work of Christ our hope would be in vain. Had it not been for the suffering and substitutionary atonement, we would still be in our sins. Had it not been for His victory over death, hell, and the grave, in resurrection, we would have no hope of eternal life.
Today is the day we celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises to redeem us back to Him. We are privileged to be able to look back on the events of that first Easter morning. It was a day that began with much doubt and despair, but ended with rejoicing and hope. It is this day so many years ago that stands as our promise of redemption and resurrection.
Let’s take a few moments this morning and journey back to that borrowed tomb where Jesus’ dead body was laid. As we examine the details of that day, I want to consider: Triumph at the Tomb.
I. A Morning of Obscurity (1-3) – We must understand the context of this fateful morning. The events of the past few days had left Jesus’ followers numb and confused. Their faith had been tested and they were searching for answers. Things had not happened as they thought they would. So what can we discover about this morning of obscurity in the lives of these women?
A. Their Pain (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. Keep in mind that these were women who had enjoyed a close relationship with Christ. They believed He was the promised Messiah. They had heard the words of the Lord, and witnessed the miracles. Their lives had been transformed by this Man, and yet He had been taken away, crucified and buried.
It seemed as if their hopes and dreams had been buried with Him. The one in whom they placed their trust had been taken away, seemingly much before His time. He had not fulfilled all they hoped He would. The Romans were still in power and their lives were now in jeopardy for their faith. They have come to do all that they feel is left – anoint His body, and provide a means of honor and respect for the one they loved so dearly. We see a picture of utter devastation and intense pain in their hearts.
B. Their Passion (2) – And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. They rose very early in the morning and come unto the tomb. They were committed to doing all they could to ensure a proper burial for one who had been so abused and rejected. No doubt they were concerned for their safety, as Jerusalem was in an uproar concerning Christ. They must’ve seen the crowds as they cried, Crucify! They must’ve known the words of disdain spoken as the crowds passed by His battered body on the cross. Some had heard the words of the malefactors as they railed on Him to prove His deity and power. I’m sure the images of those horrid scenes were still fresh in their minds, but they were undeterred. They loved the Lord deeply and were only concerned with bringing what honor they could to Him.
The passion of these women challenged my heart. We live in a day where most have no desire to honor the Lord. We live in a “take it or leave it” society. Many will not even consider the great sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf this Easter Sunday. As we are reminded of our Lord’s sacrifice and resurrection, may our passion for Him be renewed and a new found commitment be born within our hearts! Acts 20:24 – But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
C. Their Perspective (3) – And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? As the women made their way to the tomb, they were concerned with their physical limitations. They were not looking for a resurrected Lord, but focused on a stone that stood in the way. They had not come expecting to find the Lord risen as He said, but were consumed with the apparent problem at hand. They could see the death, but not the deliverance.
It may be easy for us to look back and wonder how their hearts could’ve been filled with unbelief. They had walked with Him; they had heard Jesus speak of the events of the cross and His promise to rise again. But yet they were discouraged and doubtful. Before we get to critical, we should consider our own lives. How many times have we experienced the mighty hand of God? How many times have we found the Lord to be faithful and fulfilling for us? We may be here trying to celebrate the hope of our faith, and yet burdened down with cares of this life.
We must place our confidence in the risen Lord. He came forth out of the grave. There is nothing that happens in our lives that He isn’t aware of or that He doesn’t have control over. He had the power to conquer the grave. Surely He has the power to handle the difficulties in our lives. We have not met to focus on death and despair, but life and hope for eternity. We have not read a fable that has been handed down through the years, but the account of our Lord’s resurrection. Today should be a day of hope and expectation for better things to come!
II. A Message of Victory – The women may have come with doubt and despair, but their despair was about to be turned to victory. As they came unto the tomb, the very thing they had worried so much about was removed. As they came into the tomb, rather than seeing a cold, dead body, there was an angel who delivered a message of victory. We discover:
A. He Spoke Words of Comfort (6a) – They had made their way with hearts of fear. They were unsure of what the future would bring. As they came into the tomb, the angel spoke words of comfort – Be not affrighted. He was aware of their condition. The word affrighted means “to be alarmed or struck with terror.” They had come fearful and afraid, but the Lord sent words of comfort. Their focus had been on the Lord’s death, but victory had come with the dawn. The Lord was no longer in the tomb, He was alive!
I’m glad for the comfort and peace Christ brings to our lives. He has the power to comfort the broken hearted, the lonely, and afraid. Life may not be all you hoped it would be; there may be situations that are beyond your control, but take courage, hope is not lost. Jesus is there to comfort your troubled heart. Trust in Him!
B. He Spoke Words of Confidence (6b) – Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. The angel was well aware of why they had come. They had come to anoint the body of Christ. They had come for the Savior. He wanted them to know their search had not been in vain. Their faith in Christ was not in vain. The Lord was all they believed, and so much more. He wanted to reassure them in the Lord. Jesus had died, but He didn’t stay dead. Hope had not ended in the tomb.
We live in a day where many do not believe the Gospel. They claim our faith is vain, that we believe in something that does not exist. I pray our confidence will be renewed. We have been saved by His precious blood; we belong to Him. This world may not understand or believe, but that doesn’t hinder our salvation or diminish our hope.
Our faith isn’t something that we can hold in our hands, but it is real nonetheless. We cannot expect a lost world to embrace our faith, but that doesn’t detract from its power. There may be times when you are at the end of your rope, and feel like giving up. Let me encourage you to look to Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same Lord you trusted in before remains able to meet your needs. Yes He died, and they buried Him; but He lives today!
C. He Spoke Words of Conquest (6c) – He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid him. The women came expecting to find the lifeless body of Jesus. They wanted to make the final preparations for His burial. The angel proclaimed words that have resounded through the ages. Jesus is no longer in the tomb. He rose victorious over hell and the grave. There was nothing that could hold Him there.
Aren’t you glad for a risen Savior? I’ve never been there, but the tomb is empty. Death couldn’t hold our Lord. We have the hope of life beyond the grave because of His glorious resurrection. He wasn’t the first to rise form the dead, but He was the first to rise to die no more.
There is hope in these words of conquest. Cemeteries are filled with those who have died in Christ. Their bodies lie waiting on the shout to come forth. One glorious day all the dead in Christ will come forth out of the ground as the graves burst open in victory. Death no longer has a hold on the children of God. I may go by the grave and be placed in the cold, dark ground, but praise God that won’t be the end. We will be resurrected with a new glorified body!
D. He Spoke Words of Celebration (7-8) – 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. [8] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. What a change in the hearts of the women. They had come with little hope, but left with the promise that Jesus lives! They had received the news that Jesus had risen!
Much of what we hear today brings little comfort. We are bombarded with the news of death, destruction, and despair. But for the redeemed, we can rejoice in the good news that our Savior lives!
The women were given the promise of seeing Jesus again in Galilee, V.7. No doubt their hearts were filled with joy at the promise of seeing the Lord again. We have never seen our Lord, but one day we will. We are promised that Jesus will return for the church. He will one day step out on the clouds and call for us. What rejoicing there will be when we get to look upon His face! Today ought to bring hope to our hearts. Life is filled with difficulty and uncertainty, but we have hope of a brighter day ahead. I want to encourage you to rejoice in your Savior’s love and provision.
Conclusion: This has been a special time for us this morning. We have worshiped and celebrated the resurrection of our King. I am looking for the day when He calls for the church and the dead in Christ begin to rise.
I have made preparations for that day. How about you? Do you know Jesus as the Savior of your soul? Have you been washed in His precious blood? If you have never been saved, Easter Sunday would be a wonderful day to come to Him!
