He Is Risen!

Mark 16.1-7

He has risen!

The early morning trip to the Garden Tomb was not to see the Risen Christ. It was to take loving care of a dead body of the One they had hoped was the Messiah.

It was not a trek filled with expectation. It was the first trip to the grave loved ones make after a person dies. It was very hard. Jesus was led out to death, executed for trumped up charges. His was the greatest injustice in the history of the legal system was the crucifixion. Pilate's question would be self incriminating after he consented to His death:
Mark 15.14“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

So now these close friends of Jesus, with ho hope of Him rising again, are on their way to the to the tomb.
Their love was strong. They got up very early after an incredible emotional week. The had no faith or hope but they did have love! Love covers a multitude of sins!

They were expecting things to be just like they left them on Friday before sunset. Look what those ladies had in their hands: spices to anoint His Body. Mary of Bethany had anointed Him the week before, Jesus said beforehand for His burial, now these women are doing after He died.

The stone was an obstacle they had not considered until on the way to the tomb.
Love doesn't consider obstacles until they are in front of it.

All the time Christ has already worked out a solution for our concerns and worries.
He already had in mind what He was going to do.
Worry and fretting are huge wastes of energy.

The News at the Tomb.

1. Don't be alarmed!
*They went there to grieve.

We go to graves to say goodbye, to face death, out of love for the mortal remains, to cry, to think about the person we miss.

The LORD has called me to be a student of grief, to embrace it, the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

If you are grieving today, Jesus has embraced that pain. He knows it full well.

Those who followed Him knew it for a few days, we will know it for a few years and then God will wipe every tear from our eyes.

The Resurrection of Jesus gives us comfort and hope.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.



*The word "alarmed" means:
to throw into terror or amazement, to terrify, to be struck with amazement, to be astounded, to be struck with terror.

We live in a time of terror. Don't be struck with terror! Our Hope is Christ.
There are some things that are frightening today, many things.
Mark 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

These poor grieving ladies were astounded the stone was rolled away.
They were struck with terror when they saw the angel.
* They came away bewildered.
* They ended up overjoyed.



2. Jesus, the Nazarene has Risen!
I do not believe we can fully grasp what it was like for these women to hear the words:
Mark 16:6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. "

Whew!

Heaven will bring some of those emotions to your heart.
I am glad we have eternity! Its going to take some time to grasp it!

Jesus has good news in the midst of the most difficult times. For Christians we have hope even in death! Our LORD overcame death by rising again!

One day we are promised death will be done away with.


3. Go tell...
Their commission like ours.
Tell what Jesus has done for you.
Some of need to pray for power to so.
Sometimes we need to be reminded why we are here.
Only what is done for Christ will last.

He is Risen!