The Resurrection
Mark 16:1-7
The King is Alive
John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever will believe in Him will not perish, but have everlasting and eternal life.” 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.” Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
You ask me what is the most important feature or belief of the Christian faith, and I will say without a doubt, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Disprove it, and the entire belief system disintegrates.
Turn with me to Mark 16:1-7
As we finish this series, we’ve looked once again at the glory and splendor and wonder of the last week of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry: His triumphal entry, His anointing at Bethel preparing Him for His gruesome death, His last supper with His friends, and last week, the centrality of the cross of Christ, by which, those of us who have believed, have walked through the door passing from death to life, from darkness to light.
But this morning we examine one of 4 accounts of this seminal event we call the resurrection. Follow along as I read.
Mark 16:1-7
vv.1-2 Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of Joseph, and Salome—this trio of women traveled with Jesus and cared for Him in the latter part of His ministry and they were with Jesus as He was dying on the cross. Now they have come together to do one last kindness to their Teacher.
Jesus executed on Friday. Died at 3 pm. Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemas were in a hurry to get him off the cross before Passover and get him laid in the tomb before darkness and the onset of Sabbath so Luke tells us they went to Pilate to get permission to take the body. Burial by Jews in that era consisted of covering the body with various oils and we’re told in John 19 that it was about 100 lbs. Why were they wanting to anoint a dead body that had already been covered in 100 lbs? Possibly because of their devotion to Jesus and still clinging to their memory of Him. We do this when someone we love has died; there seems to be a preoccupation with the body, even though we know that the person we love is not in the lifeless corpse. Sabbath was over at sundown Saturday evening, so at first light on Sunday they were at the tomb to honor His body again.
v.3 “who will roll away the stone” The stone referred to here would probably weigh between 1 and 2 tons. It would take 2-3 strong men to move it. Rolling away the stone was not just about pushing a big object: it was about removing the separation between these women and Jesus.
v.4 “looked up” They were so sad and downcast that their heads were no doubt hanging down as they approached the tomb. When they did look up, they saw that the huge stone had already been rolled away for them. Matthew informs us in his gospel that an angel had come and rolled it away. Jesus didn’t do it; He didn’t need to. He was already gone at that point. Humans didn’t do it. It was an act straight from heaven.
v.5 “young man”. No doubt this is the appearance of the angel that had rolled away the stone.
“they were alarmed” Ya think? Their grief stricken. They get to the tomb and the large stone is already rolled away. They rush inside to see the body. They see an angel on the inside—not something you see every day. And on top of all of that, the body is not there! They were more than a little shook up.
v.6 “Look where they laid Him”. They rush into the tomb, see the angel and he directs there attention to the stone slab where the body of Jesus would have been laid and covered with the spices and balm. As all this is happening, the angel proclaims the words that have been heralded for 2000 yrs; words that leap off the tongue of the believer and bring joy and hope to our hearts: He’s not here—He’s risen! He’s not here—He’s risen! He’s not here—He’s risen!
True believers get excited about Resurrection Sunday! Resurrection Sunday is more thrilling than any other human event: more than winning the lottery, more than winning a national championship, more than if Jerry Jones sold the Cowboys!
And why not? The resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Lamb of God is THE singular most important event in human history. For if not true, Christianity is a worthless, awful lie and hoax. Even worse—If not true—there has been no payment for, atonement before a holy and righteous God for human sin and brokenness. My sin and your sin and our brokenness continues to separate us from this holy and righteous God.
That’s why Jesus was in the tomb in the 1st place, right? John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever will believe in Him will not perish, but have everlasting and eternal life.” 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.” Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the turning point of all of history. The resurrection gives us hope because Jesus proved His power over sin and death.
And that’s important for us to recognize this: Jesus death paid the penalty for our sin and brokenness, and His resurrection promises that ultimately the brokenness in the world and the brokenness in our own lives does not need define us nor conquer us.
Is that exciting or what? Somebody say Jesus! Somebody say Amen. Somebody say Hallelujah!
40 years ago I heard a tape by a guy named Tony Campolo. He talked about the fact that the whole world seemed to be falling apart on Friday, but that’s only because it was Friday, and Sunday was coming.
So true, is it not? Come with me back to that weekend and let the truth of the resurrection rock and change your world.
It’s Friday—Jesus hangin’ on a cross. Dead. Gone. But that’s because it’s Friday.
Sunday’s a comin’. Somebody say, Amen! I need you with me here folks (Divide up?)
It’s Friday—darkness covered the whole earth, but that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s comin. That’s right!
It’s Friday—the totality of human sin was placed on the innocent, sweet Lamb of God. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’ Somebody say, keep going!
It’s Friday—Mary’s crying her eyes out. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’ Someone say “Preach it, brother!”
It’s Friday, the disciples are scattered like sheep without a shepherd. No hope in the world. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’ Somebody say, “Hallelujah”
It’s Friday—Peter is ate up with guilt and remorse for denying his Master. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’ Somebody say, So true!
It’s Friday, the religious authorities who screamed for His death think they’ve outfoxed their nemesis. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’
It’s Friday—Satan thinks he has defeated his arch enemy and put Him in the grave. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’.
The resurrection changed every thing right? Now bring it forward to your life.
You may feel as if the addiction that is controlling your life is unbeatable. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’. The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
You may feel as if you’ve screwed up too many times; that something you have done disqualifies you from the love of Christ. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’ The Bible says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Your marriage may be ending and you think that’s there is no more love for you in the world.. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’. The Bible says, “Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and gave Himself for us.”
You may feel that you are so tired and discouraged that you can’t go on. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’. The Bible says, “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow wear; they shall walk and not grow faint.”
You may think that the situation you’re in is hopeless; you see no way out. But that’s because it’s Friday—Sunday’s a comin’. The Bible says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Your body may be wracked with pain and with disease and you and your loved ones are staring into a darkness that seems endless. But listen to me—that’s because it’s Friday, Sunday is coming! The Bible says, “For our present suffering does not compare to the eternal weight of glory that is ours in Christ.”
That’s the hope of the gospel. We are the people of God. When life comes against us and attacks and failures abound and it feels dark and we feel defeated and it seems like Friday—remember: Sunday’s a comin! There is strength, there is hope, there is power in the resurrected Christ. He will give us what we need to survive and even thrive in this life AND we also have the promise that one day all of the pain, all of the suffering, all the abandonment, all the abuse, all the disease , all the tears will give way and we will be shed of this ol damnable body and rid of this hopelessly broken world and we shall be caught up in the clouds and we will see Him as He is.
It’s Friday… IT’s Friday… FRIDAY. Amen.
But listen, if you haven’t died to yourself like Jesus on the cross and have not taken Him as your boss and redeemer, then you haven’t experienced the resurrection that we’ve been talking about and you’re still caught up in your own world instead of His world. And you need Him. Trust Him today.
