First Easter Sermon (03/23/08)

“Encountering the Resurrected Christ”
Mark 16:1-8
Thomas Hudson

Funeral’s are real events in humanity. Many people have been buried since the time of Adam and Eve. Many of us have experienced funerals of loved ones and know how difficult it is to go through such life-changing events. Our experience leads us to react in multiple ways. Some of us, go to the viewing for the funeral and that is it. We leave the event from a distance. Some of us continue to visit gravesides each year or during important events with family. Amanda and I go to her grandmother’s house every other Thanksgiving and I know that we will buy flowers and go to her grandfather’s grave. Death is a reality that we all must contend with while we are here on earth and eventually we will even have to face our own. We know there are multiple ways to face this grim reality but there is only one way that is appropriate for us if we are indeed Believers.

Death is not grim for those of us who believe in Christ. Death has no sting anymore after this day 2000 years ago. Christ was raised up to die on the cross so that death may be defeated. Colossians 2:13-14 tells us “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with the legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” His Father crushed him for the sinfulness of the world. Romans 5:6-8 says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ took upon himself the death sentence that is on all of our heads because of sin. Even though death comes, we know that our great God has removed us from the eternal death and condemnation to eternal life through our risen Lord. The promise of Romans 8:1-2 tells us “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” So with this great hope in Christ that we as believers have we will look into Mark and see how he reveals the good news of the very first Resurrection Sunday.

When we partake in the reality of death we may find ourselves as the disciples did after Jesus death. They were not calm, cool and collected. They were dispersed, depressed and in shock. They fled the scene with no hope at all. Jesus led them to Jerusalem for a take over and transfer of power, right? Remember the study in Mark 10. What was he thinking getting himself nailed to a cross and dying at the hands of the evil governments that he was supposed to usurp? Therefore, the response of the mentioned bystanders at the cross must not shock us either. We may approach this day with gladness but know that on the first resurrection Sunday the hopes of the people were not very high. Jesus was dead and buried in a sealed tomb. The revelation that we get from Mark is that Christ was resurrected from his burial three days ago (CIT). Marks revelation of the empty tomb and resurrected Jesus calls for a response from the eyewitnesses. What will their response be (Proposition)? We must not forget also what will our response be (Purpose)? The death, burial and resurrection has had a ripple effect throughout history because of the response of the people. Will we be rocks thrown into the massive lake of history and have the right response and conversion as the believers that came before us?

So let’s turn to the first resurrection text of the early church, Mark 16:1-8.

"16:1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and 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."
Exposition:
I. The women are Convinced (v. 1-7)
The first thing that we see is that the women are convinced that Jesus was dead. On the night that the Sabbath ended, they go out and buy spices (v.1). The Jewish Sabbath day was not like our days. They considered the beginning of a new day when the sun set. Therefore, around six o’clock, most scholars say, the women went into the open shops and bought spices with the intention of going to Jesus’ grave to anoint him possibly because of his improper burial and to show their faithfulness to him.

We do like wise when we buy flowers for a deceased friend or family member. We do not buy flowers or send our condolences because we think that the family needs them. We do these things because we are convinced of their death.

Next, the women go early the next morning after buying spices to the tomb of Jesus (v. 2). This also reveals to us that they were convinced that Jesus had died. Who would go to an empty grave sight to pay respect if they knew that the grave would be empty? We might call that person crazy. With the conviction of the women so heavily keyed into here by Mark, we see that historically that the death of Jesus was real. Some scholars refute the point that Jesus actually died on the cross. Some believe that since Jesus made “resurrection” appearances that Jesus was actually removed from the cross before his death and healed by his disciples. Mark gives us ample evidence from his resurrection story that Jesus’ death truly did happen.


The women were also convinced that something was different (v. 3-5) as they approached the tomb of Christ. First, they were unprepared for the task of their journey. They ask who will roll the stone away. Neither one of them could do it and the left their crowbar at home because of all the spices they had to carry. Therefore, someone had to roll away the stone so that all the spice and oil would not go to waste. There on the road questioning one another the look at each other in the moment doubting in anxiety, Who will roll away the stone? Then they look to see that the large stone that they saw seal the tomb three days ago has been rolled away. The reason for the stone’s movement is not explicitly understood here in the English text but in Greek, the word choice of Mark is poignant. His verb for the rolling away brings in the notion that the stone was rolled way by a divine power, namely God. Something was very different about this new development in the story as the women are on their way to anoint Jesus.

The next conviction of things being different comes from the unexpected young man in the tomb (v. 5). The stone was rolled away so they had to enter the tomb. Tombs are supposed to contain dead people not young men who are sitting around in white robes. This is obviously unexpected. The young man inside was a messenger from God. The women know this because of their response to him. The women were alarmed. We see this through Mark’s description and the women’s response. Young white robed men that invoke a spirit of apprehension usually are from God and have a message to reveal to those who see them. The messenger reveals that they are seeking the same Jesus that they ministered with and witnessed the death of three days earlier. He asks them not to be alarmed as all messengers of God ask the ones the come to when revealing a message. The beauty here is that the message that is revealed is that Christ was raised. Some English texts say that Jesus “has risen” but that possibly gives of the idea that he rose on his own, but the messenger reveals that he was raised. Jesus being raised means that he was raised by something, better yet someone other than himself. Again, this is Mark’s revelation to his readers of a divine interaction just like the rolling away of the stone.

The third idea that we see the women convinced of is the fact that Jesus was gone (v. 7). The messenger from God reveals to the women that the place where they saw Christ laid at his burial is now empty. There is no body. Jesus was raised by his father. Jesus is not there for their spices to be used. Then we see the women flee the tomb. Yes, they were scared but if the body would have still been there they would have stayed and Mark would have recorded how they anointed the body. However, Mark does not end his gospel this way. The empty tomb here is strictly the revelation that Christ has been raised. Mark reveals to us and his readers that Jesus is resurrected.

Are we convinced? Do we believe that this truly happened from our reading and understanding the Word of God? We do not have a direct, firsthand account like these women but we do have the four Gospel accounts and multiple historians of the time like Josephus and Tacitus that tell us this was a real event in history. We have to respond out of faith and believe what Mark reveals to us here. The same Jesus that Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Solome saw crucified and buried is the same Jesus that has been raised by God the Father from the grave to triumph over death forever more. Jesus is gone. He is no longer in the tomb.
Confucius founder of the eastern philosophy of Confucianism died in 479 BC and people still go to his tomb to this day in the Chinese city Lu.
Muhammad founder of Islam died Monday, June 8, 632 AD due to illness and is entombed in Medina, Arabia.
Mary Baker Eddy fonder of Church of Christ, Scientist died December 3, 1910 and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a memorial tomb for people to visit.
Jesus died approximately 29-33 AD and rose from his tomb on the third day so that we would not worship a god that is dead but have a God who is resurrected and alive. Our God has a empty tomb not a grave site. He was raise to be the God of the living not the god of the dead.

II. The women are Convicted (v. 7-8)
The first evidence that we see that shows us that the women are convicted is that they are alarmed (v. 7). They are in the presence of God’s messenger as mentioned above. They get scared and realize the holiness that exists in the presence of the one who brings a direct message from their God to them. The angel reassures them that they do not have to be alarmed but there are very few other responses that are appropriate for humanity when it is in the presence of divinity.

Do we have a holiness alarm in our hearts? When God gets really close to us do we become alarmed? We should consider the way that people reacted in Scripture when God’s messengers and at times when God himself drew close in the lives of his followers. Our God deserves reverence. We must revere and fear our God, not because he is the bad father that is waving his finger at us because of our faithlessness and disobedience. We need a healthy fear of the Most High God who sits on his throne and does all the he pleases. He and he alone has the rights and power to give grace, mercy, life, and death. God gives and takes away as he pleases. He alone is the most holy and we are far from the mark of holiness that he holds us to in this life. Fear is essential to working out our salvation and being in a healthy relationship with the one true God. Again, I am not saying that he his angry or upset and is taking vengeance out on us. I am saying that God is set apart and above all things he is Holy. Let us respect him with fear and awe in his majesty.

Next, we see the women are convicted by the message that God has given them (v. 8). The women leave with fear and trembling. Everything that they had expected up to this point has been completely shattered. They come with spices to anoint Jesus when they come to find out he is not there. They come with their heads hung low believing that their awaited Messiah has failed to establish God’s kingdom (v. 4). They expect to see the body of Jesus yet they find an angel of God in the tomb. They expect to go back and tell people that Christ has been properly anointed for burial but the messenger they encounter gives them a new message to proclaim. Every one of their expectations has been turned on its head. Their response of fear is to be expected. Their trembling almost seems normal at this time.

The uniqueness of their condition is found in the message that they are given by the messenger. They are commanded to go and tell people about what happened. Therefore, they go with fear and trembling away from the tomb with one objective. The most interesting thing about this objective is that this is the first time that anyone is told in Mark’s Gospel to go and talk about the wondrous works that have been accomplished. Every other time in Mark that something miraculous happens people are told not to go out and speak of the event. Yet this time the women are told they should go and tell the disciples and Peter. They have a new command. They can speak now of the miracles of Jesus. There are no more secrets and no more disobedience for speaking about Christ and his works.

The way that Mark records this is very unique. In every instance where people receive a command of not go to out and speaking of the miracles, the people disobey the command. The way that Mark conveys this is in his word choice. Mark records two works right after the command. In the Greek those to words are “but” and “and” (de and kai). The two words placed together in Mark’s gospel show that the people who where commanded not to go and speak were actually disobedient. They went out and spoke anyway. Here in this passage, Mark tells us that the women were afraid and said nothing to anyone. This seems strange because the women are free to go and talk about the miracle that took place at the tomb.

The record seems to show that the women were actually disobedient but the structure of the sentence in Greek shows us other wise. Mark does not use the two-word combination here to show disobedience to the command. He actually only uses “and” or “kai” here not “but” and “and” together. Even though the women were struck with silence for short while they eventually did as they were commanded. They were actually obedient to the command that the messenger gave them. The told the disciples and Peter the news that the tomb was empty. This is how we have the accounts in Matt. 28:8 and Luke 24:8-12 and know that the Word of God is not contradicting itself.
Therefore, we see the conviction of the women to go and tell may have been quenched for a short time, but they eventually tell the disciples. They have a conviction to break the silence caused by their healthy fear and trembling they left the tomb with after the encounter with God’s messenger. Do we have conviction in our hearts to tell others of the Good News of Easter? Are we convicted when we find ourselves in the presence of God? When is the last time that you found yourself at the foot of God’s inner workings of your life and been ready to proclaim everything that God has done for you? These types of experiences make us who were are in our relationship with God. How do you respond? With obedience or disobedience?

III. The Conversion (v. 7-8)
The messenger of God told the women to tell the disciples that Christ is waiting for them in Galilee. I believe that this is very significant for the disciples and for us today. The disciples are disbanded and scared. Their own expectations of who the Messiah would be have been dashed. For us, we must ask where is Christ waiting to meet us? The disciple’s rendezvous point was Galilee. At Galilee Christ would show the disciples that he truly was raised by the Father. He would give them a new command. Christ would promise to them the time of the descending of the Holy Spirit. Galilee was the defining point where the reality of being a disciple of Christ would come full circle. They would go from being disbanded group of disappointed followers to a group of men set on fire to accomplish the establishment of God’s kingdom, the Church, on Earth.
The ending that Mark us unique because it leads us to encounter God. Jesus is waiting for the disciples in Galilee. Where is God waiting for you and I?
God is waiting me for me in godly parenthood.
Is God waiting for you in the sharing of your faith with that friend that does not understand the message of Easter?
Is God waiting for you in the place where true discipleship and higher devotion to God exists?
It took great devotion for the disciples to take the convinced and convicted women at their word and go on to Galilee. We know that they did what the women told them to do. If they did not they we would not have Acts of the Apostles and the establishment of the Church. The reality of the resurrection here in Mark leads the disciples and us to a real point of encountering Jesus on the road in front of us. Jesus is no longer behind us in the grave. He is in front of us ready to pour down the Help that we need to accomplish the mission of establishing his kingdom here on Earth. We must be willing and ready to meet Jesus on this road if we really desire to partake in the significance of a raised Christ. Christ is always ahead of us leading us to new places in our faith. The place we most often encounter our God and Christ is in obedience to the commands that His holy Word give us.
So, is another encounter with Jesus necessary to convert our unbelief and fears in to trust and obedient faith? I believe that from Mark and the revelation of the messenger, divine moments of encountering Christ are necessary for him to set our paths straight and establish his kingdom through us. Without encountering Christ and being converted from our disobedience, we are unable to accomplish the purposes of God.

Conclusion
In Mark 16: 1-8, we encounter the resurrection of Christ in a unique way. The women that go to the tomb are convinced of Jesus’ death, the unexpected events at the tomb of Jesus, and the fact that Jesus was no longer there. Then we see that the women are convicted in the presence of God’s messenger at the tomb. In addition, we see their conviction eventually to allow their faith to break the silence that seized them after they fled. Moreover, in the midst of everything they and the disciples expected to happen we see that another encounter with Jesus is necessary to convert their fears and unbelief into trust and faithful obedience.
Is this our approach to this holy day of Resurrection? Do we come just to celebrate the newness of the moment or do we truly come to worship in the presence of the Most High God as he has powerfully raised his Son from death to live forever? Do we come to have a necessary encounter Jesus once again so that we are in tune with what he desires to accomplish through us and his Church? Have you encountered the Resurrected Jesus today for the first time? Is this the first time that you have understood the message that Jesus lives today and that his death and resurrection have great significance in faith and life. He is no longer in the tomb but he is waiting for us on the road of life in the establishing of his kingdom. Christ Jesus lives today so that our sins will be forgiven. Christ Jesus lives today that we might have a relationship with God the Father. Christ Jesus lives today so that we will have purpose in this life and be able to live with him eternally.