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.” Mark 16:6

Mark 16:1–8 – Holy Week 2022: Behold, Your King
Resurrection Sunday  – April 17, 2022 (am)

I want us to look at Mark’s account of Jesus’ resurrection this morning, seeing that he didn’t have much good to say about the first reactions of Jesus’ closest followers.

Paul records that 1Co.15:3 … [Jesus] died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 … he was buried, … he was raised on the third day…, 5 and… he appeared to [Peter], then to the twelve. 6 Then… to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Even so, as Jesus was ascending back into heaven forty days after His resurrection, Matthew records that Mat.28:17 … when [the disciples] saw him they worshiped…, but some doubted.

And prior to that, Luke reported that the women told the apostles the things they saw at the tomb, Luk.24:11 but these words seems to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

We really are strange creatures—capable of doubting what’s real even when it’s staring us right in the face! And, my friends, there is nothing in this world more real than the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Our very presence here this morning proves that!

If Jesus’ body were still decaying in some Jerusalem grave, we wouldn’t be talking or preaching about Him still. Paul said it best in 1Co.15:14 … if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. In fact, 17 … your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. … 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. That means there are many more resurrections still to follow!

Even so, if people are bent on doubting it, they’re fully capable of doing so. We can see that from the first century testimony of Matthew and Luke. And we’ll also see it here in Mark today.

But the testimonies of the eight people you’ve heard this morning are proof not only of the fact that Jesus is risen, but that He’s still at work changing the lives of any and all who believe!

Let’s read Mark’s brief account of Jesus’ resurrection and notice that he’s not embellishing or exaggerating anything! In fact, he seems to have no interest even in putting a good face on things!

At this stage in Mark’s telling of the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion, he’s laid out parallel and interwoven accounts of the religious leaders’ plan versus God’s plan for how best to respond to Jesus’ life and ministry. As c.15 closed, it seemed like the leaders’ plan had prevailed. Jesus’ bloodied and beaten corpse had been removed from the cross and placed in a tomb (15:45-46) quickly before sundown on the eve of the Sabbath.

16:1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (probably Jesus’ mother), 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.”

Before we read the last verse here, let’s just pause and think of what it must’ve meant to Peter to be singled out like this to make sure he got this word after he’d denied Jesus three times just a few days ago. Wow. God’s forgiveness is amazing! And it stands right at the center of His plan!

That’s good news for each of us today, too. This is what tells us that we can’t sin too badly for God to save us! You just can’t out-sin God’s grace! No matter how far you stray, He can find you, cleanse you, and reconcile you to Himself through Jesus’ sacrifice! Peter is proof! So am I!

But look now at v.8. 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to any-one, for they were afraid. According to some of the earliest manuscripts, Mark’s story ends right here. Jesus was alive but His followers were mute with fear! Initially they said nothing to anyone!

It seems like it was Mark’s intention to leave his readers with a question, namely: What about you? How do you respond to Jesus—especially Jesus’ resurrection? Are you more like His first followers? Or are you more like these folk we’ve heard from this morning? Have you trusted Jesus, received Him as Savior and Lord? Or are you keeping your distance, perhaps even running away in fear?

Years ago I had a good friend, a Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern, who loved to talk religion! He loved the positive impact that having some kind of faith had on people in particular and on society in general, so he was very interested in my work. We talked about aspects of the gospel on many occasions, but then we were finally together uninterrupted for a long enough window for me to explain fully Who Jesus is, what He taught, and what He did for us through His death and resurrection. When I was finished, he sat speechless for a few moments, then he said: If this is true, it changes everything.

I told him I couldn’t agree more, and I believe it really is true. He was quiet again for a moment, a distant look in his eye, then he changed the subject and we never spoke of religion again.

I believe Mark’s conclusion here is not all that unusual. I believe my friend ran away in fear that day, understanding some of the implications of placing his trust in Christ, maybe. But still, he was completely overwhelmed by the thought that, if Jesus really is Who He says He is, and actually did what the Bible says He did, then that truly does change everything! We either need to bow before Jesus in humility, repentance, and faith, or we’ll likely need to spend the rest of our lives running, or hiding, from any more conversation about Him!

Jesus told us that 10:45 … [He] came… to give his life as a ransom for many. From the very beginning, He said: 1:14 … the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. These are considered the theme verses in Mark’s gospel. So, have you listened to them? Have you responded and placed your trust in Jesus by faith? Or are you still running away in fear?

That’s the question I need to leave with you this morning. That’s the question Mark’s gospel leaves with you. And if you’d like to reconsider your current answer to it, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at GCD. Give me a call. I’d be delighted to talk with you more about it!

NEXT WEEK: Jesus the Destroyer, Jesus the Deliverer, Hebrews 2:14-15, Kipp Soncek