He Is Risen

Mark 16

The stone has been rolled away!!! Jesus is alive!!!

“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Mark 16:1–8 (ESV)

When three women came to the tomb early Sunday morning to finish anointing Christ’s body for burial, they were amazed to find the stone had been rolled away. When an angel told them that Jesus had been raised from the dead, their immediate response was fear.

How about you, what would your response have been? What is it now? Do you believe? Is the resurrection the cornerstone of your faith?

“Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. Mark 16:9–11 (ESV)

Soon, however, Jesus himself appeared to Mary Magdalene. Despite their fear, they became the first heralds of the Resurrection.

Jesus then appeared to two disciples walking in the country.

“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.” Luke 24:13–15 (ESV)

He then revealed Himself to “the eleven” later that day. He also rebuked them for not having believed the resurrection reports. “Eleven” is probably figurative, since Thomas was not present and Judas had left to take his own life from the evil he had done.

“Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:14–18 (ESV)

All to whom He appeared became witnesses of His resurrection, just as we should be today. The Apostle Paul challenges the Philippian Church and us to be a witness to the Resurrection.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:8–11 (ESV)

Their mission, is our mission. Jesus summarized the mission of His followers: They were to evangelize the whole world, understanding that those who rejected the gospel faced eternal death.

Matthew explains the call to mission like this:

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

Here, Jesus granted miraculous powers to protect these early believers and to confirm their message.

“So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” Mark 16:19–20 (ESV)

Jesus ascended. Jesus was crucified, buried, raised from the grave, met with many over a period of 40 days, and then Jesus ascends into heaven. And then, their mission begins.

Jesus ascended to heaven and took his rightful place at God’s right hand, in fulfillment of prophecy, and the disciples immediately began proclaiming the gospel.

How has the Resurrection and Ascension changed your life? How has your faith in Jesus been impacted by His overcoming death and raising from the dead? Are you testifying to His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension? Are you on mission for Jesus? Are you making disciples that make disciples?
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Today, let worship, joy, and praise be the result of your faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

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