Jesus is Risen
You can imagine how the disciples must have felt. First of all, all their hopes had been dashed as Jesus was arre Save sted and then put to death. They may not have understood everything that Jesus told them but they had a pretty good idea that he'd been talking about building his kingdom. His kingdom, right? That means he must be a king. Well, the Romans had a bad record of getting rid of would-be kings and it seemed Jesus was just another example.
So what were they going to do now? Go back to their old lives with their tails between their legs? Try to pick up where they’d left off three years before? They must have been totally depressed mustn’t they? Maybe they even felt let down. All the things Jesus had promised had come to nothing.
They were certainly scared. John tells us they were hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leaders: afraid, no doubt, that they’d be next to be arrested, since they were Jesus’ closest followers. It would have been a sombre time wherever they were that passover Sabbath.
Well they may have been heartbroken and scared stiff, but at least the women knew what they had to do. Mark tells us that as soon as the Sabbath was over, that is, as soon as the sun had set on the Saturday night, they went out and bought spices. (late night shopping was around even then.) They hadn’t had time to buy spices on the Friday. They’d only just had time to follow the soldiers to see where Jesus was laid before the Sabbath began.
But off they go now and buy spices but it’s already dark so they have to wait until the morning to use them. You can imagine what a long night it would have been. Finally dawn breaks in the distance and they go out very early to the tomb.
You can tell how distraught they’ve been because it isn’t until they’re nearly there that they remember there’s a very large stone lying across the entrance. In fact there are also Roman guards put there to keep people out. So how are they going to move the stone - what a shame the men hadn’t come with them?
But when they arrive they’re amazed - this very large stone has been rolled away. Again you can imagine their confusion. Imagine the questions that’d be going through their heads. What’s going on? Is Jesus still there? Who moved the stone? And where are the guards?
When they enter they get another shock. A young man, in a white robe, is sitting on the right of the tomb. Apart from him the tomb’s empty, though John tells us that the grave clothes are still there, left behind by the risen Jesus who no longer has a use for them.
The young man speaks to reassure them: “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.”
Notice that Mark is recounting these events with a view to gospel proclamation. The name: “Jesus of Nazareth” reminds us of his humble origins as the son of Mary and Joseph. His being crucified reminds us that this is why he came - to die on our behalf, to save us from the punishment we deserve. He has been raised is the sure sign that his work has been effective. His death has destroyed death as a power to be feared. As we’ll sing in a moment:
Crown Him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
for those He came to save.
Here’s the climax of Mark’s Gospel. Someone once remarked that Mark’s gospel is really a passion narrative with an extended introduction. It’s interesting that when you read through Mark’s gospel, as we will later this year, it starts out with a whirlwind procession of miracles and acts of power by Jesus. It sets the scene for an account of someone who’s literally out of this world. But then as it progresses you realise that this was just setting the scene for something remarkable that no-one is able to grasp. Jesus is going to throw off his kingly power and take the part of a servant. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many. And that’s to be the model for all of his followers. Whoever would be great in God’s kingdom must be the servant of all.
And so here we come to the climax. The secret is out. Jesus came, not to claim an earthly kingdom, but to die and rise again so that his followers could enter his heavenly kingdom.
And then in case they’d missed what he said, the angel says: “Look, there is the place they laid him.” Perhaps he’s pointing out the grave clothes lying there. But that’s just a detail. The point is, Jesus was there, but he isn’t there any more. Jesus is risen! So what should they do? Well, he tells them:
“7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” This young man, this angel - has been sent with a message. Jesus is alive and they’ll see him soon.
It’s as though the angel is giving them a test - a test of their faith. They have to travel back home to Galilee to see if what he’s saying is true. Clearly the women aren’t completely convinced. Mark says they go out trembling and bewildered. They don’t say anything because they’re afraid. I assume he doesn’t mean they didn’t tell the disciples. Rather they didn’t tell anyone else.
But they go with a message. Now pay particular attention to this. We often hear this story and concentrate on Jesus’ resurrection but fail to notice the significance of what happens with these women.
The resurrection of Jesus has far reaching consequences for the world. As I’ve just said, Jesus’ death and resurrection bring forgiveness, victory over death. But the resurrection has a more immediate consequence. The women are immediately sent out to proclaim the gospel.
Notice too, the mention of Peter. He’s one of the disciples so he doesn’t need to be mentioned separately. So why does the angel single him out? Is this perhaps part of Peter’s restitution. Is this God’s way of assuring Peter that his failure at the High Priest’s house wasn’t final? That Jesus has forgiven him.
I wonder did Peter think his failure was final? Was he tempted to despair the way Judas did and give it all up? Do you ever wonder whether you’ve failed in such a bad way that there’s no possibility of recovery?
Well, Jesus wasn’t going to let Peter think that was he? He’d died so that Peter, along with all other failures on this earth, could be forgiven and restored.
Jesus had come precisely because he knew that when things get tough human beings often fail to keep their commitments, fail to remain loyal. Jesus had come because the very first human being had failed to remain faithful to God and death had come into the world as a result.
Paul tells us that Jesus came as the new Adam, as the new perfect human being, to bring life in the place of death; to restore the creation to the way God intended it in the first place.
Mary and the other women were given a task that day, to pass on the message to the disciples. A few weeks later Jesus gave the same task to all his disciples when he told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
God’s plan from before the creation of the world was to form a new people for himself. Jesus came to make that plan possible by dying and rising again. But the fulfilment of that plan depends on us, you and me, the members of his church who have been given the message of Easter to pass on. We have the same choice the disciples were given. Will we believe the message of the angel, “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified has been raised.” And will we follow Jesus’ instruction to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
That’s a question for all of us individually and for us as a Church. Let’s pray that our answer would be a resounding Yes!