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Mark Entrusted Us With Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Story
Mark 15:42-16:8
Mari Ikeda
A. Jesus’ death: The result of our sin (15:42-47)
15:42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
B. Jesus’ resurrection: The power of God that inspires fear (16:1-8)
16:1 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.
C. Each of us encounters the risen Jesus
1. Like the women
2. Like the disciples
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.’
Summary
We all need to encounter the risen Jesus for ourselves. This means that we come face to face with our sin, which resulted in Jesus death, and with the power of God which brought him back from the dead. Only through Jesus can we receive God’s love and forgiveness and the strength to believe that our sadness will turn to joy and that our despair will turn to hope. This is the story of life being born of death. Each of us plays a part in this story, relays it to others, and that is how the story goes on.
For Discussion
- How did you come to believe in Jesus’ resurrection?
- What can you do when your sadness and despair won’t go away?