Introduction

Good morning, beloved family. It is a joy, a privilege, and an honor to stand before you today, not because of who I am, but because of who He is. We are gathered here, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the grand narrative of God's love and redemption. We are here to be touched, transformed, and transported by the living Word of God.

Today, we are turning our hearts and minds to a passage that is radiant with the glory of our risen Lord. A passage that brings us face to face with the power of the resurrection. It's a story of a miraculous morning, a message from the Messiah, and a manifestation of a miracle. It's the story of Mark 16:1-8.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint Jesus’ dead body. Very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. They were saying to each other, “Who’s going to roll the stone away from the entrance for us?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. (And it was a very large stone!) Going into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right side; and they were startled. But he said to them, “Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn’t here. Look, here’s the place where they laid him. Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Miraculous Morning

We are immediately struck by the timing of the events. It was very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise. The timing is significant. The first day of the week, Sunday, is the day of new beginnings. It's the day when God, in the Genesis account, began the work of creation. It's the day when light first pierced the darkness.

Now, on this first day of the week, as the sun is rising, a new creation is unfolding. The darkness of death is being pierced by the light of life. The old order of things, marked by sin and death, is giving way to a new order, marked by forgiveness and life. The timing of the resurrection is not a random detail. It's a profound statement about the nature of God's redemptive work.

The women who went to the tomb that morning were expecting to find a body. They were expecting to find death. They were carrying spices to anoint a corpse. But instead of death, they found life. Instead of a corpse, they found an empty tomb. The stone had been rolled away. The body was gone. A young man in a white robe was there, with a message of hope and victory.

This was not what they were expecting. It was not what they were prepared for. It was a complete reversal of their expectations. The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest miracle in human history. It's the miracle that changes everything. It's the miracle that gives us hope in the face of death, peace in the midst of turmoil, and joy in the midst of sorrow.

The women were startled, the scripture tells us. They were overcome with terror and dread. This is a natural response to the supernatural. When we encounter the living God, when we come face to face with the power of the resurrection, it can be a frightening experience. It can shake us to our core.

Message of the Messiah

We now find ourselves standing in the cool, silent tomb with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO