Mark 16
-The ladies that had tended to the Lord in His life now came
back on the first day of the week, Sunday, to anoint the dead Man with spices
for his proper burial. The Word says they went very early on this day as the
sun had just risen. They were wondering who might be able to roll the stone
away for them since it was described as being “extremely large” and therefore
too heavy for them to move. But entering the tomb area where they had seen
Jesus be buried two days before, they looked up and saw that the stone had been
rolled away. They then actually entered the tomb and saw a young man sitting at
the right wearing a white robe. This certainly amazed them as it would anyone.
The young man 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. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is
going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
The ladies went forth from the tomb trembling and with total astonishment
gripping their soul in fear and probably a new found-unexpected hope. They went
back to the disciples as the angel had instructed. Mary Magdalene, who had had
seven demons cast out of her by Jesus, reported to those who had been with the
Christ while they were still mourning and weeping. They did not at first
believe the incredible news that this woman was revealing to them. They refused
to accept that this Man that they knew had been killed by crucifixion was now
alive and had been seen by Mary Magdalene (her testimony of seeing the Christ
is actually expanded upon in another gospel, John 20:11-18). The Emmaus travelers
are also reported by Mark in two short verses here with an expanded version in
Luke 24:13-36. These were not believed either, but afterward the Lord appeared
to the eleven themselves as they reclining at the table. He reproached them for
their unbelief and hardness of heart. They still had some lessons to learn in
faith at this point (Mark 16:1-14).
-Jesus now gives them their marching orders as the risen
Savior of the world. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be
saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will
accompany those who have believed: in My Name they will cast out demons (Acts 19:11-20),
they will speak with new tongues (Acts 2:1-4); they will pick up serpents (Acts
28:3-9), and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will
lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:15-18, Acts 3:1-9).”
-The final scene is portrayed on the Mount of Olives as
Jesus is received to the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven (Mark 16:19, Acts
1:9-12). From there they went out and preached everywhere just as the Lord
commanded them. He was with them in every respect as a guiding influence by His
Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). He confirmed the Word by the signs that
followed His disciples as the Kingdom of God advanced and multiplied “from east
to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation (Mark
16:19-20).” The church was born.
-*Application* With total victory achieved we now have the
power and authority of the Almighty in us as believers to change this dark and
desperate world. Do we believe? Do we move in His Spirit? He has given us all
we need to keep advancing His given mission during the course of our lives.
Serve Him faithfully and enjoy the exciting life in Christ Jesus!
Verse to Memorize:
Mark 16:15-16
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