Day 107 — The Way Forward — He Is Risen

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.” — Mark 16:6 (ESV)

The stone has been rolled away. The grave is empty. Death has been defeated. Jesus is alive.

Mark 16 brings us to the most glorious truth in all of Scripture—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything in the Gospel has been building to this moment. The cross was not the end of the story. The tomb was not the final chapter. What seemed like defeat has now become the greatest victory the world has ever known.

Very early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome make their way to the tomb. Their hearts are heavy. Their hope feels buried. They come not expecting resurrection, but to complete the burial process. As they walk, they ask, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3, ESV).

But when they arrive, the problem they feared has already been solved. “They saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large” (Mark 16:4, ESV). God had already done what they thought was impossible.

How often is that true in our lives? We carry burdens, questions, and fears, only to discover that God has already gone before us. What seems immovable to us is nothing to Him.

Inside the tomb, they encounter a messenger who declares the greatest news ever spoken: “He has risen; he is not here” (Mark 16:6, ESV). Jesus, who was crucified, is now alive. The one who bore sin, suffered death, and was laid in the grave has conquered it all.

Their initial response is fear and astonishment. “They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them” (Mark 16:8, ESV). This reaction reminds us that the resurrection is not just comforting—it is overwhelming. It disrupts expectations. It challenges assumptions. It calls for a response.

So the question becomes personal: do you believe? Is the resurrection the cornerstone of your faith? Because everything hinges on this truth. As Paul would later write, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, ESV). But He has been raised—and that changes everything.

Jesus then appears to Mary Magdalene, the one from whom He had cast out seven demons. “She went and told those who had been with him… But when they heard that he was alive… they would not believe it” (Mark 16:10–11, ESV). Even those closest to Jesus struggled to believe the resurrection at first. Their grief clouded their faith.

Yet Jesus continues to reveal Himself. He appears to two disciples on the road, walking with them, speaking with them, drawing near to them (Luke 24:13–15, ESV). Then He appears to the eleven, confronting their unbelief and hardness of heart. “He rebuked them… because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen” (Mark 16:14, ESV).

This is both a correction and an invitation. Jesus meets them in their doubt, but He does not leave them there. He calls them to faith.

And then He gives them their mission: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15, ESV). The resurrection is not just something to celebrate—it is something to proclaim. Those who have seen, believed, and experienced the risen Christ are now sent to share that truth with the world.

This is our mission as well. The same call given to the disciples is given to us. As Jesus says in another account, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV). The resurrection compels us outward. It moves us from spectators to witnesses, from receivers to messengers.

The Apostle Paul captures the heart of this response when he writes, “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10, ESV). The resurrection is not just a historical event—it is a present power. It transforms lives. It brings hope where there was despair, life where there was death, purpose where there was emptiness.

As the foundation reminds us, those who encountered the risen Christ became witnesses—and so should we . Their lives were changed, their fears replaced with boldness, their doubt transformed into conviction. And that same transformation is available to us today.

Mark concludes with the ascension: “So then the Lord Jesus… was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19, ESV). Jesus returns to His rightful place in glory, having completed the work of redemption. And the disciples respond in obedience: “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them” (Mark 16:20, ESV).

Notice that—the Lord worked with them. They were not alone. The same is true for us. As we go, as we speak, as we live out our faith, Jesus is with us, empowering and confirming the message of the Gospel.

So what does the resurrection mean for you today?

• It means your sin can be forgiven.
  
• It means death is not the end.
  
• It means hope is alive.
  
• It means Jesus is Lord.
  
• But it also calls for a response.
  
  

Have you placed your faith in Him? Are you living in the power of His resurrection? Are you sharing the truth of who He is with others? Are you on mission—making disciples who make disciples?

The resurrection is not just something to admire—it is something to embrace. It is not just something to believe—it is something to live.

Today, let your heart be filled with worship. Let your life be marked by joy. Let your words be filled with truth. Because Jesus is not in the grave. He is risen. And because He lives… you can truly live.

Prayer:
​Father, Thank You for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank You that death has been defeated and that hope is alive because He lives. Help us to believe deeply and live boldly in the power of the resurrection. Strengthen our faith, remove our doubts, and fill our hearts with joy and confidence in who You are. Give us courage to share the Gospel with others. Help us to be faithful witnesses, living on mission and pointing people to Jesus. May our lives reflect the reality that Christ is risen. May we worship You with all that we are and follow You wherever You lead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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