He Has Been Raised

Mark 16:1-8

Introduction

            I got in trouble with my wife the other day. I heard some news from one of our sons and I forgot to tell her. When she found out that I knew and hadn't told her she asked me, "Why didn't you tell me?" The truth is that I forgot. Then I was talking about this to our son's wife and she mentioned that he hadn't told her something either. We laughed about it and Carla was sure that it was a male problem.

            Today we celebrate the greatest event of the Christian faith. Have we told others about it? I suspect that silence about the resurrection isn't only a male problem. Today is a day on which we can be reminded about the wonder and glory of the good news of the resurrection and commit ourselves once again to tell others.

            If you look at Mark 16, you will notice that there is some question about exactly where the book ends. In most translations, Mark ends on verse 8. But most also include verses 9-20, but with the note that they likely weren't original. So the question which has been debated is: "where exactly does it end?" Some say it ends at verse 20, some say at verse 8, but suggest that there must have been more to it that has been lost. I believe that most likely Mark 16 ends at verse 8 and that this was the intention of Mark.

            Each gospel has it's own presentation of the resurrection of Jesus and Mark's presentation, ending at verse 8, is in character with the rest of his book. It presents the fact of the resurrection and ends with a challenge to make this message known. The challenge comes by way of a question, which we must answer. That is the profundity and the beauty of Mark's presentation of the good news of the resurrection.

I.     He Has Been Raised

A.   Evidence

            As with the rest of gospel, the final chapter comes to us in story form. Three women are named, who go to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. They knew where the tomb was because they had been there when he was buried. They were going to anoint the body not embalm it. Hebrews did not embalm, like the Egyptians did. By anointing his body, they simply wanted to make his decaying body smell better. It was a way of honoring Him.

            But as they made their way to the tomb, they were discussing a problem. Having been there when he was buried, they knew that a stone had been rolled in front of the opening of the tomb. They were wondering, and quite concerned, about how they would be able to remove it so that they could carry out their intentions.

            But their concern was unfounded and their intention was unnecessary. As they were about to find out, Jesus was alive!

            The events presented in verses 4-6 reveal step by step the truth that Jesus is alive. There are 4 steps which lead to the final conclusion, "He has been raised."

            The first step was that the stone was rolled away. That in itself was not proof of anything, but it was the first step in a series of events that would lead to that conclusion.

            Because the stone was rolled away, they were able to enter into the tomb. Now a second step occurred which would lead them to the wonderful conclusion. A young man, who was a divine messenger, was seated on the right side. They were alarmed, which was the usual response to a divine visitation. He is not called an angel, but he acted like an angel. He was clothed in white and he told them not to be afraid, which is the normal experience of anyone who meets an angel. The word "angel" means messenger and this young man had a message for the women from God.

            The young man invited them to take note that the tomb was empty. He said to them, "He is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him." The empty tomb was explained by the Jewish religious leaders by various means, the most popular being that the disciples had stolen the body. However, the one thing the Jewish religious leaders did not do was dispute that the tomb was empty. Because the women were there when he was buried as we read in 15:47, we know that they did not go to the wrong tomb by mistake. They knew where they were going. The tomb was empty and no one has ever disputed that it was.

            But the meaning of the empty tomb still needed to be interpreted. The interpretation of the empty tomb includes some important information. The angel mentions that they are looking for "Jesus of Nazareth." In later years there would be some who would suggest that the human Jesus died and the divine Jesus never died and resurrection means that the spirit lives on. Yet because of the mention of "Jesus of Nazareth" we know that it was the human Jesus who died and the human Jesus who was raised from the dead. This is important for it means that death has been conquered among mankind. That is why we also can expect a physical resurrection.

            He also identified him as "who was crucified." The women knew that this had happened to Jesus. They had been there when He was crucified and when He was buried. This also speaks to some of the errors which have arisen. Some have suggested that Jesus never actually died, but this statement indicates clearly that Jesus did die and so this was not a resuscitation, but a resurrection. Many people have died and been resuscitated and we can read their books. Jesus is the only one who has ever died and been raised to live forever. Because He it was a resurrection, we also believe that we will rise to live eternally when He returns.

            Finally, after all of the evidence and all of the steps towards this conclusion, the clear statement is made by the angel, interpreting the empty tomb when he says, "He has been raised." Even this statement is important. The verb tense is "has been raised." It is passive, which implies that Jesus did not raise Himself, but God raised Him. This is important. Even though the cry of Jesus on the cross was, "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?", because God raised Him we know that that forsakenness did not remain. God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus and did not abandon Him, as it seemed when he was on the cross. God accepted Him and demonstrated that acceptance by raising Him from the dead. Jesus is not in the tomb! He has been raised! He is alive!     

B.   More Evidence

            The first evidence of the resurrection was the empty tomb and the message of the angel, but there is more evidence, even in the book of Mark.

            In fact, the very existence of the book of Mark is evidence of the resurrection. If Jesus had remained in the grave, I am quite sure, because of the fear of the disciples and their abandonment of Jesus, that all talk of Jesus would have ended. Their hopes had been dashed and they were overwhelmed with complete disappointment. But something happened to change all that. Something happened to make them bold witnesses who were willing to suffer persecution and even martyrdom in order to proclaim that Jesus was alive. That something was that they had seen Jesus alive. Mark would never have told the message of the good news if it wasn't good news.

            In the gospel of Mark, we read about things said which were to happen after Jesus died and rose. For example, in Mark 9:9 Jesus told the disciples who had gone up the mountain to see Jesus transfigured before them that they should tell no one "until after the Son of Man has risen from the dead." Well, this story has been told, which means that the disciples knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead because they had seen Him alive.

            The telling of the gospel stories to people who had come to believe in Jesus through the testimony of the disciples and the formation of the church can leave us with only one conclusion and that is that Jesus rose from the dead, that they saw Him and knew that they were serving a living Christ.

            Today we gather to declare the message of the resurrection and to celebrate the wonder that Jesus rose from the grave and lives to this very day.

C.   The Meaning of the Resurrection

            What is the meaning of this incredible event? I would like to just mention a few things.

            The resurrection proves who Jesus really was. He had been declared Son of God and King of the Jews and because He rose from the grave, it is certain that this is who He truly is. Romans 1:4 says He, "…was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…"

               If Jesus had just died, he would have died a martyr death. Martyr deaths are powerful and often fuel movements, but a martyr death would not have accomplished salvation. Jesus had to die in our place but He was raised to demonstrate that God accepted His sacrifice. Therefore, Jesus conquered both sin and death.

               Because Christ rose from the dead, we are assured that we will also rise. I Corinthians 15 tells us that He is the first fruits of those who are alive. He rose and so we will also rise if we belong to Him.

               If Jesus had only died, we would have a relationship with a memory of one whose life was an influence. But Jesus is alive and so when we come to know Him, we have a relationship that is ongoing and is a relationship with the living Lord.

               These are some of the implications of the resurrection. The message, which was declared to the women on that morning when they saw the empty tomb and when the angel said to them, "He has been raised," is undoubtedly the most incredible news that has ever been declared. It is powerful! It is full of meaning! It is amazing!

II.  Broadcast Reluctance

            What do you do with such a message?

A.   Go and Tell

            The next message which the angel communicated to the women gives us a clear indication about what must be done with this message. The angel said to them, "go and tell."

            But the message of the angel, was not just to go and tell of the resurrection. The message they were to deliver was already beyond that. It was a message which began to spell out the implications. Since Jesus was alive, it would be possible for the disciples to meet Him. Before the disciples abandoned Jesus, in fact in the context of the announcement that they would abandon Him, Jesus told them in Mark 14:28, "But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” They had already been told of this meeting that would take place with Jesus. Now the women were to remind the disciples of this appointment and encourage them that they would see Him.

            What is even more wonderful is the special mention that they were to go tell his disciples, "and Peter." The angel extended a special invitation to Peter because of the spectacular way in which Peter had failed Jesus. It is a great word of encouragement to all who have failed Jesus, who have denied Jesus, who have doubted. Because Jesus rose from the grave it is possible to meet Him and to experience the forgiveness which He extends to all.

            What they were to do with this incredible message was to go and tell and that is still the appropriate response to the message of the resurrection. Repeatedly, in Scripture, this is the mandate given to those who belong to Jesus. Because He lives, we have an incredible message to proclaim. Therefore, we must proclaim it. Matthew 28:19 commands, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" Acts 1:8 also instructs, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

B.   They Fled and Said Nothing

            They had an incredible message to proclaim. They had a divine mandate to proclaim it. How did they handle that? Surprisingly, verse 8 tells us that they failed. They were so filled with terror that they "fled from the tomb" and "they said nothing to anyone."

            How can they fail to tell such good news? Yet can we really criticize them? We also have the same incredible message and we also fail. Often we fail to go, but instead hope that people will come to us. We fail to proclaim. We don't mind demonstrating our holy lifestyle by not swearing and not engaging in other harmful practices, but how often do we tell people that Jesus is the one who is changing us into the people we hope to become? We don't mind inviting people to come to an event at church, but are we as willing to let them know that Jesus is the living one who has gathered together a people who belong to Him? We are glad to serve, but how often do we help people understand that it is the presence of Jesus, who lives in us, who has given us a servant heart?

            Jesus is alive. Have we told others about Him? Have we invited the doubters to consider Jesus? Have we talked about the incredible implications of living for one who lives eternally? As we watch the women flee in silence, we have to admit that often we are also running with them.

C.   Resurrection Renewal

            What do we do with our failure? It is in this context that the ending of Mark is so meaningful and so helpful. One way of looking at the ending of Mark, especially if we see verse 8 as the ending Mark intended, is to see in it a challenge to return to Jesus and make a new commitment to go and tell.

            Jesus had told the disciples back in 14:28 to meet with him in Galilee. He told them this in the context of announcing to them that they would all abandon Him. He did this to let them know that there would be a chance for restoration and renewal.

            When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples fled. They failed Jesus. They failed to follow Jesus as disciples are supposed to do.

            Interestingly, the women had not run away. They had stuck with Jesus throughout this time. They were still there at the cross and watched as He died. They saw Him being taken down from the cross. They saw where he was buried. Because they had stuck with Jesus all the way through, they were also the first ones at the empty tomb.

            When the angel appeared to them, he gave them the message that they should tell the disciples and Peter to meet Him in Galilee where they would see Him. For Peter and the disciples this was to be a reminder of an appointment that had already been made. The purpose of that meeting would be a chance to begin again. It would be, for Peter, a chance to be restored to discipleship. It would be for all of them, a chance to meet with Jesus and, having met with the resurrected Jesus, to begin the discipleship journey again and to follow Jesus in a new way.

            The women had not previously heard of this appointment because only the 12 had been there when it was made. Therefore, this message of a meeting in Galilee was also a message for the women, who now heard it for the first time. Up until this point, they had not needed this message because they had not failed Jesus. But now, even after hearing the incredible message that Jesus was alive, they did fail. They fled and were silent. They also needed to know that they could return to Galilee. They needed to know that they could meet Jesus and make a new commitment to begin again and walk with Jesus and proclaim Him.

            The disciples failed when they saw the death of Jesus which is understandable. It was doubt provoked by a time of deep difficulty. Sometimes we fail Jesus at such times. We fail to trust and to follow through at a time of trial or persecution. Failure is not excused, but understandable. Jesus' invitation speaks to such failure. Because of the resurrection, there is the hope of renewal.

            The women failed after they saw the power and glory of what God had done in raising Jesus. Sometimes, perhaps often, we fail in the same way. We know that Jesus is alive. We know that He reigns, and yet we still remain silent and fail to proclaim His name. Because of the resurrection the invitation of Jesus also comes to us. We also can start again. Through a meeting with Jesus we are able to begin again and to take up the challenge to go and tell!

            Although the meeting in Galilee is over, a meeting with Jesus, the one who lives is still possible and it is by going back to Jesus and meeting with Him that we can begin again and in His power to recommit ourselves to proclaim that He lives.

Conclusion

            Jesus is alive! Wow! The message is incredible, but it is only as we meet with Jesus that we will have the boldness and the joy to tell this message to the world. So besides being a message which declares the wonder of resurrection, we see that the gospel story of the resurrection is also an invitation to meet with Jesus and challenge to go and tell! May we be found faithful!