By: Dale Weckbacher
Mark 16:6
And he said to
them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
(ESV)
Although the crisis faced by the Disciples
and followers of Jesus only lasted three days, the feelings of these people
during this time were not much different than what many across the world are
experiencing today. Before the
coronavirus pandemic, most people were experiencing economic prosperity unlike
anything they had experienced in their lifetimes, something those following
Jesus probably felt when following Jesus and why they praised him as he entered
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Mark
11:1-11). However, their beliefs
were based on the unrealistic expectation that Jesus would march into the palace
of Herod and Pilate and overthrow their Roman oppressors, not realizing Jesus
was going to suffer death by crucifixion for their sins and rise again in three
days demonstrating victory over death.
Likewise, any belief there would never be another economic downturn were
unrealistic as history demonstrates economic upturns followed by economic
downturns. This is precisely why Jesus
taught us to put our treasures in heaven (Matthew
6:19-21). There will be a recovery from this crisis as
people recover physically, mentally, and spiritually and while waiting for the
recovery, we must place our trust in God and treasure our personal relationship
with Him because of the cross.
Mark’s account of the
resurrection occurs through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of
James. These are the same two women that
lurked in the background while Jesus was laid in the tomb (Mark
15:47). The fact that they purchased
spices to anoint Jesus leads us to believe they wanted to know where they buried
Jesus so they could anoint Him for his burial.
However, Mark
16:3 records their conversation with each other about how they were going
to roll the stone away, leading to the possibility they believed they would
witness Jesus’ resurrection, something Jesus mentioned three times (Mark
8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34).
Upon arriving at the tomb, and
seeing the stone rolled away, we can only surmise what their thoughts might
have been. Did the Romans or Jewish
religious leaders steal the body so they could produce it after Jesus’
followers claimed Jesus had risen after seeing the empty tomb? However, the fact that almost two thousand
years later nobody has produced the body or real tomb where they buried Jesus
disproves this theory. They may have
thought some of the disciples stole the body to begin profiting from a new
religious movement based upon Jesus as Messiah who died and rose from the
dead. However, the fact that all the
Disciples suffered for their faith with all but one martyred and did not profit
from spreading the Gospel message that Jesus had risen disproves this
theory. This leaves one credible theory,
The words Jesus spoke in Mark
8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34 were true.
The fact that the women rushed into the empty tomb lends credence to the
belief they thought there had been a resurrection.
Their belief in resurrection
would have been strengthened when they saw a man in a white robe, an angel, in
the tomb bringing them the message Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark
16:5-6). The angel then instructs
the women to go tell the disciples Jesus had risen but fear and astonishment
seized them and they rushed out of the tomb, telling no one (Mark
16:7-8). However, after Jesus
appeared to Mary Magdalene, she found the courage to tell those still mourning
Jesus’ death but was not believed (Mark
16:9-11). Jesus also appeared to two
disciples as they were walking into the country but when they told the other
disciples, they did not believe them.
Mary Magdalene and the Disciples
knew Jesus. Mary Magdalene had
experienced Jesus casting seven demons out of her with the two disciples
possibly witnessing this event (Luke
8:1-3) and the many other miracles Jesus performed. They were present when Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead (John
11:38-44), demonstrating Jesus’ supremacy over death. They had heard the teachings of Jesus through
his messages and parables and were trying to adapt them in their lives. However, before encountering the risen Lord,
their knowledge of Jesus was academic.
It was not until they encountered the risen Lord that their knowledge of
Jesus became personal, giving them the courage to tell others even though no
one believed them.
Everyone reading this must ask
themselves the question, is my knowledge of Jesus academic or personal? While it is necessary to know the Bible for
it is truth and the Word of God, this knowledge alone cannot save us for if it
was, Jesus didn't need to come and die on the cross for God had already given
humanity the law. Salvation comes as one
encounters Jesus through repentance and accepting that Jesus died, was buried,
and arose from the dead to forgive our sins (Romans
10:9-10). This is how one comes to
know God personally, giving them the courage to tell others about Jesus. I want to invite anyone reading this who does
not know God personally to pray with me now so they can have a personal
relationship with God,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, spent
three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord
of my life.
Next Wednesday’s posting will be
on the “Great Commission” or Jesus telling his believers to go out and spread
the good news or Gospel that Jesus has died for the sins of humanity and
resurrected from the dead in demonstration of his supremacy over death. Mary Magdalene and the two Disciples were the
first to begin the spreading of the Gospel message after encountering the risen
Lord. I encourage all who have a
personal relationship with God through belief in Jesus as Savior to do the same
and not let rejection stop them. This is
especially true during this coronavirus crisis when many are living sheltered
in their homes in fear. May God bless
and encourage everyone reading this post.
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