August 27, 2023
Evening Service

The last two weeks in Mark have not been easy to bring or even to listen to.  We often don’t want to talk about what Jesus did on Thursday and Friday, we want to skip right to Sunday.  Jesus’ struggles began with the spiritual battle He fought in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The full weight of all that lie ahead of Him became real with sweat drops as of blood fell from his brow.  It was there that He made the final choice to submit to His Father’s will and angels came and strengthened Him in the moment.

From there things began to go fast as Judas arrived with the multitude and betrayed Him with a kiss.  He was tried by the Sanhedrin and they convicted Him of blasphemy.  The chief priests sent Him to Pilate, but Jesus gave no defense.  Pilate was not convinced Jesus was deserving of what the religious leaders and tried every way to release Him, but fell short of doing it.  Once he agreed, Jesus was taken to the Praetorium and beaten, mocked, and given a crown of thorns and a purple robe.

Simon, a Cyrenian, was chosen to carry Jesus’ cross as He was physically unable to do so.  Once hanging upon the cross, many passed by continuing to mock Him saying; “save yourself and come down from the cross!”  Darkness fell upon the whole land from noon until 3:00.  It was then that Jesus cried out; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”  Shortly after that He breathed in His last.  It was in that moment that many miracles occurred including the tearing of the Temple veil torn from the top to the bottom.  The evidence was so great that a Roman centurian then declared; “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

After His death, Joseph of Arimathea, was given Jesus’ body and He wrapped Him in fine linen and laid Him in a grave that had been hewn out of the rock.  A stone was rolled in front of tomb and guards were posted for the night.  Since His betrayal everything had to be such a whirlwind and happen so fast, but I assume that night, the next day (the Sabbath), and that night seemed to last forever.  The disciples had to be in shock and constantly listening for soldiers coming to arrest them as well.  Peter was forced to come to grips with the reality that he had denied Jesus three times as he was told he would do.  Everything had to seem lost.  How could they recover from such a devastating event?  The night was the darkest of all time, but then came sunrise on Sunday!  Mark again follows suit as he says the facts without much extra.

Mar 16:1-8 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.  (2)  Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.  (3)  And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?"  (4)  But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.  (5)  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  (6)  But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is 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 into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."  (8)  So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

 

 

 

            These ladies were doing what faithful women do.  They make sure whatever needs to be done is done.  It was customary for a Jewish burial that the body was covered with spices to slow down the decay and suppress the smell.  In times of turmoil it is a special group of people that are able to “focus on the task at hand.”  It always seems the ladies take the lead in buying the funeral flowers and doing the many preparations that need to be done.  Doing what needs to be done in the moment.  To this point there had been nothing they could have done, but now there was a job to do and they faithfully arose early to be sure it was done.

 It does not seem that any of them were expecting what they found as they entered the tomb.  An angel clothed in a long white robe sitting inside of the tomb they knew Jesus had been lain.  Mark describes the ladies’ reaction as trembling, amazed, and afraid.  I can understand that.  The announcement was simple enough in that “He is risen!  He is not here!”   I love how Luke puts it; “Why do you seek the living among the dead, He is not here He is risen!”

 They were then told to go share the news with the disciples and specifically Peter and that Jesus would meet them in Galilee.  Can you imagine how their mind was spinning and their hearts hopeful that this was indeed true?

 

Mar 16:9-11 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.  (10)  She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.  (11)  And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

            Here we learn something about Mary Magdalene.  Jesus had cast seven demons out of her.  This was shown wonderfully by the very first episode of The Chosen as they expounded on what living with seven demons would look like and how she would react to having them removed.  It was obvious why she was here at the grave site.  Her gratitude was enormous for what Jesus had done for her.  John goes a bit more in depth of Mary’s encounter with Jesus on this day.

 

Joh 20:11-18 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  (12)  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  (13)  Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."  (14)  Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  (15)  Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."  (16)  Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).  (17)  Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' "  (18)  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.  

            As Jesus called her by name, she recognized Him for who He was.  She was the one Jesus chose to reveal Himself to first.  It is obvious she was not expecting what she saw in that moment; her Lord and Savior alive and well.  She quickly went and shared what she saw creating an even greater hope for them that He was alive.  Mark then records another encounter.

 

 

 

Mar 16:12-13 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.  (13)  And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

            This could be the story Luke tells of the two men on the road to Emmaus.  Jesus, unknown to them, joined them on the journey and had a conversation about all that had been happening with Jesus.  He expounded to them how that fulfilled scripture all pointed to Jesus being the Messiah and at the end revealed Himself to them.  When He left they said to one another:

 

Luke 24:31-32 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.  (32)  And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

            Jesus would eventually reveal Himself to the disciples and Mark records the giving of the Great Commission.

 

Mar 16:14-20 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.  (15)  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16)  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  (17)  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."  (19)  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  (20)  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

            These now 11 ordinary men were commissioned to go and change the world by spreading the gospel message. A job they did well by relying on the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in them. The message that “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”  A message of forgiveness and hope.  A message that is not limited to you having any certain abilities, attributes or background.  The message is for “he who believes!”  Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

            Mark records that the disciples “went out and preached everywhere.”  They were faithful to their calling to spread the gospel message and now that commission has fallen on us.  Each of us as a Jesus follower are called to share this message of salvation to all those around us.  If not us, then who.  We must continue to do just that and perhaps, if the Lord tarries, we must have trained the next generation that it is also their duty to carry that torch.