Mark 16:4-8
“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." Mark 16:4-8 NIV
The glorious resurrection of our Saviour is as much a part of the gospel of Christ as His sacrificial death. He was delivered to death to pay the price for our sin but His resurrection from the grave secured our justification.
The message of the Cross does not end with Christ's death on the cross, but integrates His rising from the dead. And His victory over sin, death and hell is an inescapable part of the whole story of our great salvation.
Resurrection reality is an integral part of the good news of Redemption. Christ's resurrection from the dead broke the power of sin and death in the life of all who trust in His name for the forgiveness of sins.
His death became our death and His resurrected life becomes our eternal life when we believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. We do not become a god as some falsely teach but we receive His Life and are indwelled by His Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine what ran through the minds of each of those faithful women who loved the Lord so much that they sped with haste to the tomb, that resurrection morning, expecting to find Jesus dead. Instead, they saw that the extremely large stone had been rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone.
These precious women were to have their spiritual vision extended when they also realized that Christ's glorious resurrection was as much a part of the gospel of grace as His sacrificial death. Praise God that Christ died to pay the price for our sins but praise God also that His resurrection from the grave secured our justification and breathed into us the breath of eternal life.
Mark wanted us to know two crucial things about Jesus. First, Jesus was mighty and powerful, something even the demons recognized and feared. Second, despite all of His power, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father and went to the cross to ransom us from sin and death. Mark knew Jesus was raised from the dead. But he used the women and their bewilderment to remind us of the resurrection not because they doubted, but because they believed.
Jesus changed everything in their understanding of the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus was willing to go to the cross even though He clearly had the power to prevent it. His dying didn't fit the women's expectations, and they couldn't understand how it could be so. All their hopes had been dashed with His crucifixion, and their lives were ruined with His death.
On the Sunday morning in today's verse, however, they found out He was raised from the dead and they were told this good news by an angel inside Jesus’ empty tomb.
How could they not be astonished and fearful? Their world was forever changed. If Jesus could rise from the dead, then what would happen next? If they followed Jesus, what could the resurrected Jesus do through them?
And if Jesus could use them to turn the world upside down with His message and His follower's courage, what can He do with us? So let's join these faithful women at the empty tomb, bewildered and frightened, but full of expectation at the thought of what lies ahead for us.
The world tries to deny that Jesus actually rose from the dead. If He did rise from the dead, then it means He was right. If He was right, that also means that people are dead in sins, unless they turn to Him. The world does not want to be wrong, so they continue to deny the truth. They do not want to change their ways to follow Jesus.
Today, celebrate what Jesus did for you by dying upon the cross so that you may live for all eternity. Do not be like the world and question whether Jesus is alive.
He is definitely alive!!! Know this and believe it!!! Let the world know that Jesus is alive today and the tomb is empty!!!
Let us never forget that the message of the Cross does not end with His death but integrates His glorious resurrection and His victory over sin, death and hell as an inescapable part of the good news of our great Salvation!!!
Father, thank You for this day and that Christ's resurrection is an integral part of our redemption. Lord, let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Thank You that through Your death the full and final payment for our sin was made. Through Your glorious resurrection You broke the power of sin and death in our lives and in the lives of all who trust in You for the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Lord, empower us to live for You and impact our world in a similar way to how these first followers impacted the world where they lived.Father, we love You. Amen. !
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