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All along, Mark’s Gospel of Jesus has been compelling us to see how others respond to the awesomeness of Jesus and then to ask ourselves: “How are we going to respond to Jesus? How am I responding to Jesus?”

So, that is what we will do today. We will come to that question after we follow Mary, Mary, and Salome closely to and in and out of the empty tomb. We are going to step into the account and ask it to examine our own hearts as we do.

HONORING JESUS THROUGH CONFUSION (v1-4)

Mark 16:1–4

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

The world thinks they came up with how to value women—in spite of the church. In truth, the world has been taught by the church to recognize the inherent value of women—even though the world has rejected the inherent values themselves.

The biblical substance is that women have inherent value, being made in the image of God and being made distinct and complimentary to men. By rejecting both of those dear, biblical truths, the world reduces “equal value” into “same as men,” and thereby disrespects the inherent value God has given to women.

But keeping our attention on the resurrection account, the women came to honor Jesus’s body, and God opened the tomb for them so that they could learn that Jesus has been risen.

Q: What obstacles have become excuses for not honoring Jesus in your life? Do you dwell too much on your fears and limitations? Do you trust God to open doors you cannot so that you can honor Christ? Is your desire truly to honor Christ?

AN EMPTY TOMB AND AN AMAZING MESSAGE (v5-6)

Mark 16:5–6

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Q: How does it help us today to know that none of Jesus’s disciples were seen as expecting the immediate resurrection of Jesus? Would it have made sense to expose this weakness if they were just trying to gain followers of themselves? How okay are you with having your weaknesses exposed in light of the risen Christ? Who do you really want people to follow?

GO TELL. GO GATHER. BELIEVE HIS PROMISE. (v7)

Back in the Garden of Gethsemane, before the crucifixion, Jesus had given clear instruction to His disciples for where to go and what to expect after Jesus’s death (Mark 14:27-28).

Mark 16:7

But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Knowing the will of God in times of confusion is more about obeying by faith what God has already said than it is about getting clarity of your circumstance.

Q: What clear instruction do you disobey in response to unclear circumstances? Have you found yourself giving all sorts of pragmatic excuses of why you won’t repent and obey God’s clear instruction? What do you need to go obey today?

MARK’S QUESTION MARK (v8)

Mark 16:8

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Like others, they fled: Mark 5:14; 13:14; 14:50,52

Like others, they were in amazement: Mark 1:27-28; 2:5-12; 5:41-43; 6:47-51; 9:15; 10:32-34; 14:33

Like others, they were in fear and trembling: Mark 4:41; 5:15, 33, 36; 6:50; 9:6,32; 10:32; 11:18

All this time, Mark’s Gospel and the many interactions people had with Jesus has been preparing the reader to respond correctly to Jesus. We are to…

1. Fear and tremble before His divinity.

2. Be amazed at what He does.

3. Run in obedience to His Word.

4. Gather with Christ’s followers with faith in His resurrection and hope in His return.

Q: How do you respond to the message of Jesus’s resurrection? Do you understand this to be the primary point of Mark’s Gospel? What do you think could be more important than the resurrection of Jesus? Who needs to hear you ask this question?

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:

The question of Jesus’s resurrection is, “How will you respond to the message of it?”