Week 12

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Mark 16:8

We read this story and wonder why they would run away from the empty tomb. Perhaps we think them foolish, all because we read the texts and understand Jesus’ talking about this moment time and again. But, before we get too judgmental, let’s remember they were living it while we’re only reading about it. There’s a huge difference between the two.

How many times have we been involved in something and were told repeatedly the outcome? Then, when it actually happened, we were surprised. Whether it’s being told the due date of a project, tax day, or the loss of a loved one to an illness, we’re sometimes surprised. Our being told, for whatever reason, was either forgotten or set aside as something not to think on.

Over the years, I’ve become more and more sympathetic towards the disciples in what sometimes seems to be blind ignorance. But, as the richness of the scriptures unfolds into a living story, I see myself most likely behaving the same way! Clamor seems to have been present whenever Jesus went into a public setting, and that’s not always the optimal learning experience. Certainly, there were times the disciples were in a quiet setting, with Jesus teaching, but we all know how our minds are, having wandering thoughts as we sit in our tiredness. The disciples experienced the same, I’m sure.

I imagine this to be an Easter celebration few to none have experienced before. We’re told not to congregate, keeping our distance. This is exactly the opposite of what we desire. But, in our experience, maybe we’ve moved away from what Easter really is. Our celebrations surrounding the resurrection of Jesus have perhaps shifted from focus on Jesus to focus on celebration. Now that we’ve celebrated Jesus’ resurrection, maybe we can realign our Easter back to a focus on Jesus, and probe the question ‘who is Jesus to us?’ We’ve read and heard these Gospel accounts of Jesus, sometimes being told who he is. Remember, the relationship sought of us by God’s son is a personal one, which sounds a lot like we need to figure out who this Perfect Man is. As we reflect on our experience this Easter, this may be the perfect time for us to celebrate who we are in Jesus and what he IS to us!

By Rich Obrecht

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “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, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Humans love resolve. When we read novels we want happy endings. When we listen to music, our bodies ache for that final chord to reach a beautiful melodic resolve. We can only hold so much tension at any given time. And it’s no different when it comes to Scripture.

An addendum to the Gospel of Mark was added due to this very fact. For years, many have viewed Mark 16 as unfinished. However, N.T. Wright says, “Mark rewards careful study.” Although John Mark seems to blaze through the life and ministry of Jesus and leave us with a rather uncomfortable cliffhanger, perhaps this is exactly his literary strategy.

His audience is a group of young believers in Rome suffering under intense persecution. Mark’s gospel reminds them Jesus IS the Son of God and his resurrection informs the way his disciples live under unexpected circumstances. In the first half of this book, only demons understood who Jesus was, even his own disciples only understood in part. Finally, in chapter 15 we see a Roman centurion making a definitive statement that “Jesus is truly the Son of God” while the disciples in today’s passage ran away in fear.

Here’s where we believe the book of Mark was intended to end. Like any literary cliffhanger, Mark ends abruptly in order for the story to have gravitas. When we end at Mark 16:8, this story begs so many questions. Today, take a few minutes to identify and answer the questions this gospel poses to you.

• For those who doubt the resurrection- How does Mark’s account of Jesus’ resurrection make you feel? What are you going to do about it?
• For those who believe in the resurrection- When God shows up in unexpected ways, will you cower in fear or rise up in faith?
• For those who proclaim the resurrection- How can your life reveal the relevance of Jesus’ resurrection today?

By Yvonne Biel

 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Mark 15:42-47

How have you been spending your time during the Stay at Home? It’s almost like God is giving the world a huge “time out” to check our attitudes and what’s important. Even more surprising is the timing, right before Easter during the Lenten season. The forty days of Lent are for spiritual growth and renewal, fasting and repentance. Lent is a time to be aware of the sin that separates us from God and what it cost him to be reunited to us in right relationship.

Joseph of Arimathea got his relationship right with Jesus and was waiting for the Kingdom of God (Mark 15:43). He is mentioned only four times in the Bible, Matthew (27:57) as wealthy, Mark (15:43) respected in the Sanhedrin, Luke (23:50) as a good and righteous man, and in John (19:38) a secret disciple and follower. The day Jesus died on the cross – his waiting was over. He openly approached Pilate and boldly asked for Jesus’ dead body. He bought a linen shroud (Mark 15:46) and secured help (including Nicodemus, another Pharisee, John 19:39) to take him down from the cross. They prepared Jesus’ body for burial, and laid him in a tomb, between the 9th hour and the Sabbath at sundown. All this in 180 minutes. The other disciples scattered in fear, but Joseph, at great risk to his family and career, respectfully gave his Savior a proper burial. This was a critical part of Jesus’ story and Joseph was uniquely suited to help him in those three hours, and did everything he could.

God has prepared good works for all of us as his followers. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). These good works are a result of a right relationship with Jesus. Take inventory of your God given gifts, talents and influence. What is God calling you to for such a time as this? Are you willing to bear the cost? It was time for Joseph to be bold and courageous, and so it is for us. God has uniquely fitted you for the work he has for you. Like Joseph’s 180 minutes, it will be personal, and it will be important in God’s Kingdom. During the imposed solitude of Lent this year, spend time with Jesus, listening to how he wants to use you and your influence for his Kingdom, then obey.

By Donna Burns

“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there.” Mark 15:40-41

“Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.” Mark 15:47

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.” Mark 16:1

Mark tells us several women were present at Jesus’ crucifixion. He says Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome were among them, implying there were others. John 19:25 says, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” In Luke 8:2-3 we are given a few details, “and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” It is reasonable to assume many of these women were present at Jesus’ crucifixion. Several of them saw where Jesus was laid, and came back on Sunday, bringing spices with them to anoint Jesus’ body – out of devotion to him.

Women did not have power, voice, or influence in Israel in 30 AD. But these women heard Jesus teaching, were healed in their spirits, minds and bodies, and thus became devoted to Jesus and his ministry. They showed their devotion by following Jesus, using their own money to supply food and daily needs. In this way they served Jesus and his disciples and helped to further his ministry. The gospel of Mark tells us the kingdom Jesus proclaimed welcomes men, women, and children, Jews and gentiles. All are welcome.

Paul tells us briefly of two other women, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice,” II Timothy 1:5. Paul writes to Timothy, whom he considered to be his son, and “fellow worker” Romans 16:21. He reminds him of the spiritual heritage he is blessed to have – both a mother and a grandmother who were believers. His father evidently was Greek and not a believer in Jesus. Timothy was influenced and nurtured by a believing mother and grandmother, who surely helped him gain spiritual maturity.

Do you know a woman, or women who have been devoted to Jesus? Maybe she or they have influenced you on your spiritual journey? Perhaps a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister or friend was the person who pointed you to Jesus. Reach out and thank them. Affirm a woman or women who have helped you to mature and grow in your spiritual journey.

By Grace Hunter

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”  And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:33-39

Confessions. Mark begins and ends his story with confessions, and includes several in between. First his own, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God” (1:1). He carefully chooses miracles and ministry moments of Jesus that leave no doubt to his supernatural power and authority. After the feeding of the five thousand and the calming of the sea, Jesus takes his disciples on a retreat to Caesarea Philippi and asks Peter, “who do you say I am?” Peter passes the verbal confession saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” But, Peter and the disciples are still expecting a different kind of leader, one where they will sit on his left and his right, not a suffering servant. Jesus tells them three times he is going to die in Jerusalem. Jesus is transfigured on the mountain before them and God says “this is my Son”. The religious establishment refuses to acknowledge him as the Son of God, but one scribe who understands the greatest commandments gets encouragement. Jesus tells him he is so close to the Kingdom of God. The last confession in the story is made by a Roman centurion, who said as he saw how Jesus breathed his last, “truly this man was the son of God” (15:39).

This Roman centurion was an outsider, the enemy, the oppressor of the Jews. He was a Gentile, part of the outer courts of the nations. If his job was to guard the crosses of crucifixion he probably saw many people die. The profound way Jesus died impacted the Roman personally. How did Mark know the impact was by the way the centurion saw Jesus breathe his last? Only if he saw it, the centurion himself told him or someone else. What did the centurion do after this intense experience in the days that followed? That’s the question Mark wants to leave with us also.

You have heard the story and the message of the Son of God from Mark, now what do you say and do? Mark was sure Jesus was the Messiah, the crucified Son of God. The Centurion was sure Jesus was the Messiah, the suffering King, the Son of God. As a review, go through Mark and notice all the confessions. There are many (Mark 1:1, 11, 24; 3:11; 5:7; 8:38; 9:7; 12:6; 13:32; 14:36,61; 15:39). Thoughtfully recite the Apostles’ Creed. Worship Jesus, the Son of God, the Suffering Servant, profoundly this Easter.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

By Donna Burns