“‘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. But go, tell his disciples and Peter.’”
Mark 16:6-7
When we read the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, Mark’s is the shortest. And if we pause our reading at verse 8, we ourselves can feel the confusion of emotions experienced that day by the women who were the first at the tomb.
Mark invites us to enter right into the story with them. We push away grief by taking up a task. Up early, we take comfort in being consumed by practicalities. But how will we move the stone? Who can help us?
Then comes the first shock. Looking up from our conversation, we see the impossible. The huge stone has already been moved! Nothing blocks the tomb’s entrance. We walk right in.
Instead of a body needing our care, we encounter an unfamiliar young man. Is it Jesus? Wearing white. Is it an angel? We’re paralyzed by shock.
The angel reassures us, knowing why we’ve come. Then he announces the unthinkable: “He has risen! He is not here,” and he sends us to tell the others.
We can’t seem to open our mouths. Our world has been turned upside down.
No! The world forever has been turned right side up.
Mark invites us to enter right into the story with them. We push away grief by taking up a task. Up early, we take comfort in being consumed by practicalities. But how will we move the stone? Who can help us?
Then comes the first shock. Looking up from our conversation, we see the impossible. The huge stone has already been moved! Nothing blocks the tomb’s entrance. We walk right in.
Instead of a body needing our care, we encounter an unfamiliar young man. Is it Jesus? Wearing white. Is it an angel? We’re paralyzed by shock.
The angel reassures us, knowing why we’ve come. Then he announces the unthinkable: “He has risen! He is not here,” and he sends us to tell the others.
We can’t seem to open our mouths. Our world has been turned upside down.
No! The world forever has been turned right side up.
Scripture Focus
Mark 16:1-8
Insight
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Great News that removes the impossible and brings the hope of life to all Jesus’ followers.
Bible In A Year
- Joshua 5-6
- Psalm 99
- Acts 23
