Jesus Has Risen
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, 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, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all 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 drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Do we understand what we just read. All of history hinges on the event we read about in today’s passage: the resurrection. It’s the foundation of our faith. It’s the Good News. It is finished. Our sins are paid in full. Death is defeated! Jesus has risen!!
Today's reading tells us that Jesus Christ is exactly who He said He is—the Son of God and the Messiah.
While none of the actual resurrection appears in Mark, the messenger of God speaks in a way that reveals a lot. One thing we observe is how Jesus has an abundance of grace for us. In chapter 14, Peter DENIED Jesus three times. In today's reading in verse 7, the messenger said, “Go tell the disciples and PETER!” How often are we like Peter? When we live as if there is no God, when we live for our own pleasure or what others think of us. But this shows us His grace for us in those moments. Jesus redeems our wasted moments and foolish failures. He pursues us. He loves us.
Lastly, we see the call to the “great commission.” Why is it GREAT? Think about it this way: You've been rescued from eternal pain and emptiness and given eternity in paradise with the Creator of everything that is good, and it's not because of anything good you've done. It's only because of the good that HE’S done. Jesus, in his love for us, took the punishment we deserved and, in return, gave us the gift of abundant eternal life. And not just any life, a life filled with mission, purpose, and joy. Where do we find that mission, joy, and purpose? By sharing this—sharing what Jesus did for us with as many people as we can.
Everyone's looking for Jesus, even if they don't say it. They're searching for the hope and life that comes with putting faith in Him. Think of your coworkers, the people you spend 40 hours a week with. Consider your family members, the people you see every holiday or maybe even live with. Reflect on the people at your gym, your local coffee shop, your high school/college friends you hang out with sometimes. You've been placed where you are for a reason. You have something they don't, and you have the privilege to share it with them, watching as God fulfills them in every way. There's nothing better than being the bearer of good news that eternally changes someone's life for the better. So go share it. We have the privilege of being what God uses to share the life-changing news with everyone around us. Go share it. It's GOOD news!