The Triumph
Study Scripture: Mark 16:1-15
Lesson 4

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Key Verse

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.

Mark 16:6

 
INTRODUCTION

Mark was not an apostle or companion of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Though some of the early church fathers suggest that he was one of the seventy disciples, one theologian points out, that it is unlikely Mark was one of the seventy, as Peter claims him as his own son, just as Paul claims Timothy and Titus as his own sons. This is understood to mean that Peter was instrumental in Mark’s conversion (1 Peter 5:13, and would then imply, that he could not have been a disciple that accompanied Jesus.

From the New Testament we learn that Mark most likely adopted this more familiar name after visiting the Gentiles – this was a fairly common practice in those times and in that region. His Hebrew name was John (Acts 12:12). It appears that he was the nephew of Barnabas (Colossians 9:10), his mother’s name was Mary and she was a believer who’s home was often the gathering place for the apostles and early Christians. (Acts 12:12).

Mark was a companion to Peter, Paul and Barnabas at various times. His journeys propagating the gospel took him to numerous places, including Babylon (1 Peter 5:13), Cyprus (Act 15:39,) Rome and other places, often returning to Jerusalem. It is also believed that he went to Alexandria in Egypt, where he founded a church and subsequently died and was buried there, in the 8th year of Nero’s reign, A.D 64.

Mark spent a considerable amount of time with Peter, from whom he eventually received much of his knowledge concerning the ministry of Jesus. It is commonly held that Peter oversaw the writing of the Gospel of Mark. He was the primary source of information. Thus along with the ministry of the Holy Spirit and with Peter’s apostolic authority as it were conferred on these writings, the Gospel of Mark has always been accepted as inspired and has rightfully enjoyed its place in the canon of scripture.

The Gospel of Mark can be characterized by its succinct and factual accounts, bereft of much of the narrative found in the other accounts, Mark focuses on the central message of the gospel and its most pertinent facts.

Our lesson today (Mark 15:21- 16:8) takes us directly to the heart of the gospel – recounting the single most important event in human history –The Crucifixion and Resurrection, capstone of the Redemptive Plan of God.

The Scriptures chronicle God’s dealings with mankind. The gospels show the climax of the redemptive history, for in showing the death of Christ by crucifixion, the event that secured redemption, it displays the glorious wisdom and majesty of God.

The cross and the empty tomb are more than mere emblems of Christianity, for without them Christianity would, as all other religions, though ceremoniously observed, contain no real hope for eternity.

The Scriptures themselves tell us, that the cross and the empty tomb are both a necessary and an essential condition to true Christianity. That means that Christianity without the cross, and without the empty tomb would be an empty shell.

The Apostles and every believer know that this is the most important message that we have received and the most important message that we must deliver.

Our gospels contribute to Judaism by pointing out that their Messiah, which they longed for over many centuries, was indeed born, lived among them, died for their sins, was resurrected and was exalted to the right hand of the Father.

The patriarchs looked forward to the time of the cross. We look back, witnessing the completion of God’s redemptive plan in human history. Jesus gladly bore the shame and reproach of the cross for us, and in doing so, he satisfied for all times and for all sins, the penal justice of God, which we rightly deserved.

The evidence of the empty tomb secures for us that eternal hope for which we wait. Its reality enables believers to live in Jesus’ presence and also at his coming, to possess a body like his glorious body.

This being the most powerful event on which our Christian faith is founded. It should come as no great surprise then, that it is also the area in which Satan devotes considerable effort to corrupt, for in doing so he would, in one foul swoop, remove the foundation upon which every believer must stand.

Bearing this in mind, as we examine the Scriptures, we will attempt to identify the most predominant corruptions of this doctrine; readily identifiable in the cultic movements and non-Christian religions of today, but which are unfortunately and with increasing frequency found in the church.

THE IMMEDIATE PAST IN THE LIFE OF JESUS

We now come to the closing scenes in Mark’s account of Jesus’ life.
Leading up to the events of our study, Jesus’ had celebrated a private and intimate Passover with his inner circle; the twelve men who had been with him continually for the past three and one half years. They had witnessed almost everything that he did and had shared in both his triumphs and his disappointments.

At this Passover celebration, there was a mixture of joy and sorrow. After the traitor Judas had departed to do his dirty work, Jesus engaged his disciples in the intimate fellowship of what we call the Lords Supper. There he broke the bread and had them partake of “ his body” which he described as soon to be broken for their sins.

Then he took the cup of wine from the table, blessed it, and gave it to them, terming it as representing “His Blood of the New Covenant”, that must be shed for their sins.

He then lovingly assured them that one day he would drink the wine with them in the Kingdom of God when it was fully instituted.

Jesus then went out from the Upper Room to face the agony of Gethsemane. But first, he warned the disciples that they all would soon desert him and be scattered from him, for he would be stricken as prophecy had stated.

In Gethsemane, Jesus was under intense pressure, anguish, sorrow and distress, as he rapidly approached the time of final suffering and death.

Instead of providing the emotional support and the help he needed from them for the first time in their relationship, the disciples were overcome by their desire to sleep. Satan had done his work of attacking the flesh so well, that the disciples followed the guidance of their flesh, rather than follow the will of their Master.

As the prophets and Jesus had predicted, following Jesus’ arrest, the disciples, the people closest to Him fled and Jesus faced his final ordeal alone.

But Jesus was in complete control when he faced the Sanhedrin, the nation's religious and political hierarchy. When they rushed him to their illegal trial, he exhibited tremendous calmness. When he faced Herod he did not stoop to satisfy his curiosity and perform any miracles for him. When he faced Pilate he showed the same calmness, perceptiveness, and authority.

These people all knew that there was no case against Jesus, but he did not open his mouth against them.

Finally, though Pilate knew that the case was driven by the envy that the religious authorities held of Jesus' power and authority with the people, he still chose the politically expedient route and delivered Jesus up to death.

The wickedness of men would be even more clearly seen, as the process toward crucifixion went along. The evil men surrounding Jesus were not content just to execute him, but they first had to torment him.

This should not shock us, for Isaiah 53: 3 had pictured the Messiah as a man of sorrows, that is, he experienced extremely great sufferings, more than any man have ever experienced. He now bore the collective grief and sorrows of every human being who had ever lived, and so in a real sense, Jesus suffered more than all mankind put together, had ever suffered.

It is difficult for us to conceive of the kind of suffering that Jesus went through. He lived continually with grief. Though we cannot say it definitively, we are never told that Jesus ever laughed but he probably did.

Verse 16 tells us that the entire battalion of Roman soldiers joined together to insult him and cruelly deal with him. This was most unusual. All the rage, hostility and resentment in them against the stubborn, rebellious, quarrelsome Jewish nation, were now poured out against this “ King of the Jews”.

They put a purple robe on him to imitate the robe of royalty. Then they made a crown of thorns and jammed it down on his head, bringing streams of blood and shocks of pain. Then they put a piece of stick in his hand to represent his sceptre.

Then mockingly, they bowed down to him pretending to worship him. During all this, they spat on him, and reviled him, in fulfillment of Isaiah 50:6.

When they had finished venting their rage and venom on Jesus, they took off the purple robe, put on his own clothes and led him away to be crucified.

Let it be abundantly clear that at every step these actions represented a fulfillment of prophecy. All of these things had been prophesied.
One writer stated that there were three hundred and thirty two distinct prophecies in the Old Testament that were completely and literally fulfilled in Christ.

The mathematical probability of three hundred and thirty two specific prophecies being fulfilled accurately in the life of one man, is the incredibly large one hundred and eighty four with one hundred zeros after it. We can't even conceive of that number.

It is clear that we have solid evidence, as well as the undeniable support of mathematical probability theory that Jesus of Nazareth is God Incarnate, the Anointed, the Christ, the Son of God, the long expected Seed of the Woman and the Lamb slain for the sins of the world.

In addition, note that the trial and crucifixion of Jesus had stripped away and revealed all the hypocrisy and pretence of Herod, the Sanhedrin, the chief priests, the scribes, the Pharisees and the Roman Governor Pilate. The enmity and unrighteousness of the leadership of Israel and the perversion of justice by the Roman overlords was now laid open for all to see.

Note that Mark’s brief account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus is unique, for it focuses on the character of the people involved and the state of their heart, stripping away all the disguises.

It is interesting to note that Mark omits many of the things about the crucifixion that we find in the other gospels. He simply records that they took Jesus to Golgotha and crucified him there in the middle of two thieves and that some mocked Christ and taunted him, that he could save others but could not save himself.

There is no description of the agony Jesus suffered and Mark skips out most of the first three hours on the cross and Jesus' words while he hung there, but then Mark does record that Jesus cried out that God had forsaken him and at least one person tried to give him some sour wine to drink, in order to numb his pain. He does tell us however that Jesus gave a loud cry and uttered his last breath, the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holy of Holiest splitting in two at that moment.

Mark then tells us how the different groups and individuals reacted to the crucifixion of Jesus, and the attitudes they held.

As we study the text, let us look on this focus in Mark’s account.

Very importantly, let us never forget that as Mark notes in verse 21, Jesus was led away to his death, that is, he went voluntarily, not kicking screaming and resisting like most victims, in fear of the dreadful torture ahead of them.

The prophecy had stated that the Messiah would be led as a lamb to the slaughter and that he would not open his mouth, but would be dumb as a sheep before her shearers. Jesus' sacrifice would have to be a voluntary one with no resistance. He died willingly for us.

In Verse 47 Mark records that the two Mary’s, Magdalene and the mother of Joses “ beheld the place where he was laid .” It is likely, that as they saw Joseph and his men remove Jesus from the cross, that they followed them and observed where he was buried. This means of course that they were eyewitnesses to the death and burial of Jesus; it is quite possible that they were the only witnesses to both events.

Let us remember that the women who had gathered at the cross and the lone male John, to whom Jesus entrusted the care of Mary his mother, were not there with any hope in their hearts.

This was a time of hopelessness, fear and deep despair. One writer describes the mood calling this a picture of hopeless commitment.

The only thing left to do was to look after Jesus’ dead body with spices that could preserve his body a little bit longer.

This is a picture of how many of us are today. We believe in God until a crisis comes in our life and then our hope is gone, for we really do not believe and have hope that God can and will act in our hour of despair. Love remains but hope and faith depart. Many of us have faith, strong faith, as long as everything is working fine, but when disaster strikes, faith flies out of window. Then we forget the massive amount of promises and prophecies that God has given us.

THE TEXT

Mark 16:1-8
Verse 1-2. “And when the Sabbath was past…” the Sabbath ended at sunset, that is, on what we call Saturday; Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joses and Salome, arrived at the sepulchre carrying the spices they had bought to embalm the body.

Some suggest that this verse proves that Jesus was raised on Sunday, but this is debatable. Many go on to say that this event actually rescinded the 7th day Sabbath and replaced it with Sunday as the weekly day of worship. This is also debatable.

What the Scripture actually says is – as soon as the Sabbath was ended, while it was still dark, for the sun had not come up yet; the women arrived to find that Jesus was already risen and was no longer in the tomb. (Mark 16:2,6)

As it was according to Jewish time keeping, early the first day of the week is what we call Saturday night. According to Jewish counting, the first day of the week would begin after sunset, which we call Saturday evening.

If we accept Jesus' words that he would be dead for three days and three nights, the evidence strongly suggests that Jesus was raised while it was still Sabbath hours, not Sunday and that a Friday crucifixion is most likely an untenable idea. The spices would have to be bought, then prepared. If Jesus had died on a Friday evening and if the next day was the Jewish weekly Sabbath which would begin at sunset that same Friday evening, it should be pretty difficult for the women to buy, prepare and bring spices to the tomb, even by early what we would call Sunday morning.

Clearly, there are many speculations and assumptions made at this point, as people try to slant their interpretation of events to fit some of the pagan practices that the church has adopted over the centuries.

But we should stick to the word of God, which states that when the women went to the tomb of Jesus it was empty. There is no statement about Sunday resurrection at all and those many people who hold that theory base their belief on idle speculation. In doing so they mislead many and wean them away from following the precise, pure, unadulterated word of God.

We must also point out the devotion of the women to Jesus and contrast this with the behaviour of the disciples. The fact is that despite all that Jesus had done for them and in front of them and the closeness he had with them, the prophecies were accurate that Jesus would be deserted in his time of need.

Even then, after His death one would think that the disciples would muster up enough courage to at least follow to see where he was buried, or even to help the women with putting together the spices, since they were afraid to go to the tomb themselves.

This was indeed a day of dark despair for both the women and the men. It was also a day of forgetfulness for both groups. Even though the women came to complete burial preparations of the body of Jesus, they were not really coming to see the fulfillment of prophecy about the resurrection.

It is a sad thing when men forget the words of Scripture. This forgetfulness will bring only despair and unnecessary pain.

At least the women proved themselves to be the most devoted followers of Christ and they were rewarded with being the first to proclaim his resurrection.

From the gospel accounts, there appears to be different groups of women that visited the tomb of Jesus at different times that evening and early morning. There seemed to have been some collaboration among the women since Mark, Matthew, and Luke mention different names of women planning to go to the tomb.

Verse 3-5. Mark records that as the group of women that he focuses on approached the sepulchre, they wondered how they would possibly remove the huge stone that covered the entrance.

Mark does not mention like some of the other gospels, that the Sanhedrin Council had had Pilate place guards in front of the sepulchre. This action was to prevent the disciples from taking away the body of Christ and then saying that the absence of his body was a fulfillment of the prophecies about Messiah and Jesus' own statement that he would be resurrected.

Not only did the women have to consider whether the guards would be present to stop them from anointing the body of Jesus with spices, but they would have the larger problem of gaining access with the stone blocking the entrance. It would be doubtful if the guards, after agreeing to the anointing, would be inclined to do any physical work to help the disciples of Jesus.

Verse four tells us that the stone was very great and that in the absence of the male disciples, access to Jesus' body would probably be impossible.

Note that despite the obvious difficulties that the women pointed out to each other, they still headed for the tomb, probably praying that God would solve the problem for them.

They certainly were in despair, for everywhere they turned the situation seemed hopeless, with something always blocking their progress. Still they persisted. They would not be easily turned back from doing this last thing for Jesus, such was their love.
They were most surprised when they reached the tomb to find the entrance open, this formidable and apparently immovable obstacle had already been removed.

Verse 5 tells us about the actions of these women after two heavy burdens had been lifted from their hearts. There were no guards and there was no massive, unmovable stone.

They apparently wasted no time entering the sepulchre where they saw, as Mark records – a young man in a white robe – the scriptures reveals to us that angel often appear as men. (Gen_18:2; Gen_19:1, Gen_19:10; Luk_24:4; Act_1:10)

Here now was another unexpected problem that turned up just as the other problems had disappeared. Remember that resurrection was far from their thoughts and they did not know that an earthquake had occurred when an angel of God had come down from Heaven and rolled away the stone.

They did not expect to see anyone inside the tomb, certainly not a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting down inside the tomb. They must have been shocked almost to death at this point in the rollercoaster ride.

They were evidently amazed at the sight of the young man, who they perceived at some point during the conversation to be an angel.

The young man immediately acted to calm their fears, which were obviously now rising, since they would have seen that the body of Jesus was gone and that the grave clothes were all that was left. We can imagine what went through their minds when they glanced around on entry and saw that Jesus' body was gone, simply vanished. Had his body been taken away by his enemies? Certainly the disciples would never have been responsible for doing this, since they had been so afraid and were in hiding.

Verse 6. The young man told them that they should calm down. He knew that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth, note the identification made, that there was a specific Jesus, a man from a specific place. This Jesus of Nazareth, a man, had been crucified.

This man, linked to humanity, was risen from the dead and obviously this was not just a spiritual resurrection but a bodily resurrection, for it was the body of Jesus that arose from the dead.

We can therefore hold fast the position that it was the body of Jesus that was put into the grave and that this body was dead. Now the body was resurrected, human, but changed.

The young man, the angel then insisted that they come and closely inspect where they had laid his body, to verify that he had arisen from the dead and was in fact gone from the grave. They were invited to do exactly what Peter and John subsequently did to become convinced that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead.

The women took up the invitation and trembling with astonishment accepted and believed that Jesus was risen.

This in fact is powerful evidence of the truth of the resurrection. The women apparently still doubted Jesus when he told them that he would be raised in three days. If they had believed, they would not have come with spices to embalm his body.

Note: Mark mentions only one angel, while Matthew mentions two, one at the head and one at the feet of where Jesus laid. There is no contradiction here as some may suggest. Mark simply records what all the women saw, while Matthew record only what Mary Magdalene saw.

The women had come in despair, disappointed, and frustrated. They had had no hope. But now they were visibly shaken. Now an angel comforts them letting them know that there is no need to fear.
None of the sceptics can explain the fact of the empty grave clothes which many witnesses saw.

Beside this, note that the words of the Angel were carefully crafted to blow away all the attempts to explain away the resurrection.

Some have tried to say that the women went to the wrong tomb, or later met the wrong person, or the disciples invented another person that they later saw, not the same Jesus, to explain away the resurrection.

But the Angel is very specific. One writer explains the Angel's word in verse 6, “ This Jesus of Nazareth this One who was crucified, this same one whom you seek, has indeed risen from the dead” in this way
“ This very same Jesus, the One you knew from Nazareth, whom you accompanied about the Hills of Galilee and Judea, the Jesus who was crucified, whom you saw on the cross with the nails in his hand and blood running down his side, that same One you are seeking, is risen from the dead”. That establishes the identity of Jesus.”

This empty tomb of Jesus challenges men who believe that they are not accountable to anyone but themselves. They like to discuss everything about Jesus except his resurrection, for they know that if in fact he was indeed raised from the dead, unquestionably Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Kings, mankind’s only Saviour, and their final Judge, to whom they will have to give an account for their lives.

But even professing believers do not really grasp the reality that Jesus is risen from the dead and now through the Holy Spirit lives inside their hearts, making available his resurrection power within them, so that they can bring spiritual healing and joy to those with whom they come in contact.

Verse 7. The Angel now instructs the women who are now filled with hope to become witnesses for Christ. Mark tells us the angel told them to go and tell the disciples and Peter, which they did.

Notice how Peter was singled out. After denying Jesus just days before, one might think that he aught not to be numbered among the disciples any longer. This is what one commentator has to say:
“It is remarkable that Peter is singled out for special notice. It was proof of the kindness and mercy of the Lord Jesus. Peter, just before the death of Jesus, had denied him. He had brought dishonor on his profession of attachment to him. It would have been right if the Lord Jesus had from that moment cast him off and noticed him no more. But he loved him still. Having loved him once, he loved unto the end, (John 13:1). As a proof that he forgave him and still loved him, he sent him this “special” message - the assurance that though he had denied him, and had done much to aggravate his sufferings, yet he had risen, and was still his Lord and Redeemer. We are not to infer, because the angel said, “Tell his disciples and Peter,” that Peter was not still a disciple. The meaning is, “Tell his disciples, and especially Peter,” sending to him a particular message. Peter was still a disciple. Before his fall, Jesus had prayed for him that his faith should not fail Luke_22:32; and as the prayer of Jesus was “always” heard John_11:42, so it follows that Peter still retained faith sufficient to be a disciple, though he was suffered to fall into sin.”

God remembered Peter who had allowed a little girl to make him curse, swear and deny his Lord and then go crying bitterly into the night. With these words God had shown that he had forgiven Peter and put him right back into the band of the Apostles. Jesus had not thrown him away but had kept him for himself. Peter was counted with the disciples.

But that was not all. The third and last thing the Angel said was that Jesus was going before them to Galilee as he had promised he would. Jesus’ words were reliable, faithful and trustworthy and could be believed and relied on. Jesus had promised them that after his resurrection he would go before them to Galilee and would meet them there.

The women remembered the words of Jesus. This knowledge filled them with hope and lifted them from despair to ecstasy, from hopelessness to gladness. They had been given the only real, reliable and long-lasting hope that is ever available to this world.

Verse 8. Still trembling, the word translated ‘they were afraid’ which literally means ‘astonished’ or ‘ecstasy’, the woman were caught up in extreme delight, excitement, and in awe, at what they had heard the Angel say in the tomb. They ran quickly, not stopping to tell anybody, for this hope that is meaningful only to those that belonged to Jesus, was now so strong and powerful, that they had to go to the disciples who were in hiding.

Verses 9- 20. It is very interesting to note that the entire tone and style that Mark normally uses changes drastically. Up to now he was giving us the story of Jesus as a narrative, but now he begins to summarize events that occurred over forty days from the resurrection to the ascension of Jesus.

Some scholars do not believe that Mark actually wrote these twelve verses, for they are not in the best Greek manuscripts that we have. But the vast majority of Greek manuscripts that exist contain these verses, and as well most of the early writings of the church seem to indicate that the church accepted these verses as accurate.

The emphasis however in these verses is clearly on the importance of belief in the facts of the death and resurrection of Christ, and that this is the belief that the Apostles should carry throughout the entire world.

From verse nine to verse fourteen we see the basis of apostolic belief stated, the commitment of apostolic hearts and the clear uncompromising statement that belief in the death and resurrection of Christ is essential for any apostolic witness.

When one applies this test in the Christian Church unfortunately many shortcomings are exposed.

Verse 9. Mary Magdalene had been saved from certain death by Jesus (Luke 8:2), and showed gratitude by ministering to Christ and by being a faithful follower.

We would wish that we who have been so blessed would show the same gratitude.

Mary was devoted to Christ and is always listed among the women that ministered to him and faithfully followed him, supporting him with their substance. She would never forget that Christ had freed her from seven devils that had possessed and tormented her.

Verse 10. Instructed by the Angels, she carried hope to the disciples who had been with Jesus and who were being consumed by despair. They were mourning and weeping even while Jesus had been risen. Because of their ignorance and deliberate ignoring of the teachings of Jesus, they had brought on themselves unnecessary pain and distress.

There are many biblical truths of which we should be well aware and yet in spite of these, we allow this deep feeling of hopelessness, where we cannot imagine any change or escape from the difficulties we presently experience, for that is what despair is, a personal attack affecting our mental, emotional, and spiritual lives. We forget that Jesus is our King and that his kingdom is in our hearts. So we fall into despair and we mourn and weep, focusing on our shattered dreams and hopes, forgetting that the bodily resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone and foundation of our Christian faith.

Verse 11. The awful penalty had been removed, but the testimony of Mary that Jesus was alive and she had seen him was not believed.

It was left for Jesus to appear to the Apostles and show them physically that he was alive, questioning them why they were perplexed and filled with fear.

Struggling with doubt and perplexity is a very serious thing. In the case of the Apostles they refused to believe; in similar fashion to the Pharisees, scribes and religious leaders in Israel, who despite seeing the miracles of Jesus refused to believe that he was Messiah.

Verse 12. Jesus had to deal with this persistent and stubborn unbelief in his followers, who found it impossible to accept that Jesus would be resurrected and be once again among them.

He met two disciples on their way from Jerusalem, making the seven- mile walk through the hills of Judea to the village of Emmaus. He had listened to them discuss the amazing testimony of Mary and express their sadness and disappointment that Jesus of Nazareth, the mighty prophet in word and deed could have shattered their dreams that he was Messiah. For them as well as others, the cross was a failure. They would only speak of their despair at the failure of Jesus to avoid death on the cross.

Jesus told these disciples that they had a spiritual illness that showed in their foolish thinking, slowness of heart, blindness and failure to believe the Scriptures. When Jesus explained the Scriptures to them, their hearts burned, they believed and they returned to Jerusalem immediately, that very night, to tell the Apostles of their experiences on the road and how they recognized Jesus when he broke bread with them. (See this episode detailed in Luke 24:13-35).

We should ask ourselves whether we are on the road to despair and whether or not we have ever doubted that Jesus rose from the dead.

If we are in that situation, we are suffering from the spiritual illness so condemned by God and whether we want to believe it or not we are showing the same symptoms as the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
When we look at our spiritual weakness, our constant falling into sin, or open sinning which we deny, or fleshly attitudes which dominate us, we are doubting the resurrection of Jesus.

Verse 13. When the disciples came from Emmaus and told the other disciples that Jesus was indeed alive as Mary had said, they still would not believe.

They persisted in disbelief and confirmed themselves in unrealized power, such as what afflicts us today.

Verse 14. It is clearly noted that Jesus expected the eleven to believe in his resurrection even before they saw him, based on the eyewitness reports of those that had seen him.

Note carefully that these eyewitnesses were all trustworthy persons
and there was really no reason logically our rationally why they were not convinced and should not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead.

This foolishness upset Jesus so much that he rebuked them for their unbelief and “upbraided” them, giving them a severe tongue-lashing.
No wonder the very honest Peter in writing to the church does not hide from his failures. In 1 Peter 1:8 he states and applauds the church: “ Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your soul ”.

We can be sure Peter remembered the rebuking words of Jesus recorded in John 20:27-29.
“ Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him,
Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

We should be careful about our unbelief. Jesus has encouraged thereby all future believers who have come into a personal relationship with him, telling us that we can walk with him.

He expects us to look at the Scriptures and to be convinced that he fits exactly the prophecies of the Christ. He wants us to believe that he has been revealed in the gospels and Epistles, that he will come again as Lord of Lords and King of Kings and that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord, whether they want to or not.

One writer warns:
“ The temptation to doubt the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not sin, but refusing to investigate your doubt is sin. Some people rejoice in their unbelief: they love the search but have no desire to find the treasure. Thomas expressed his doubts to the other disciples concerning the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but when the evidence was presented to him he was willing to bow his knee to his risen Lord and God.

Jesus wanted all of us who have not seen him physically risen to understand that we have no cause to envy those who had an opportunity to see and who believed only after they saw him. We are not at a disadvantage. It is a higher calling to be able to believe without seeing because we have had to dig harder for the truth, but once we discovered from the Scriptures and from the changed lives all around us that Jesus was truly risen from the dead, our hearts were filled with his gifts of everlasting joy, peace, and salvation.”

Verse 15. Note that in this text Jesus is emphasizing that the disciples, when going throughout the world were to preach the good news to all the world. The emphasis then is on preaching not simply going, even though this is involved.

The lesson really is that wherever we are, we are to preach, that is, tell the good news where we are, as well as while we are going, on every occasion.

The good news is that Jesus has fulfilled the promise of God, he has come, he has died and he is risen. When Jesus died the terrible problem of human evil that held and destroyed everything good about us was resolved. For the evil force has been destroyed, blocked and made impotent by the death of Jesus.

With the resurrection of Jesus he now is free to live within us, manifesting the same life that he has lived, right where we are.

The good news is that the power of evil has been broken in our life and can be broken in the lives of all those who accept the testimony about the risen Jesus and who love this Jesus. Evil does not have us in its grip, for it has been broken by the power of the resurrection of Jesus.

 

CONCLUSION

The amazing events surrounding the trial and crucifixion of Jesus were indeed breathtaking.

This was the central point in man’s history.

The living Lord himself lives within us and imparts to us power to act as he acted, for he wants to live his life through us. That is the good news that we should be telling everyone that we meet.

We note the varying reactions of the people that came to face Jesus in these events. Some were revealed to be total hypocrites, some sold Jesus for money, some were interested in thrills, some were impressed with him, some ran, some showed that they did not fully believe Jesus or the prophets and only a few reacted in the way they should have.

The behaviour of the thief on the Cross was very impressive. It is important that we have the right reaction to Jesus.

What people believe about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is a sure sign of their orthodoxy. As mentioned earlier, there are those in mainstream Christianity that deny that the complete work of atonement was accomplished on the cross by Jesus’ death.

Furthermore there are those who deny the bodily resurrection of Christ; the most prominent group that promotes this doctrine are the Jehovah Witnesses.

It cannot be over emphasized that these doctrines of the death and resurrection of Jesus are essential and central to the Christian faith and must not be tampered with or compromised; if you are a believer you aught to be certain of the facts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ and be able to give an account of what you believe.

The Angel and the women at the tomb believed in the resurrection of Jesus and the Apostles and all the disciples following them also believed in the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostles and the disciples put their faith in Jesus, the risen and reigning Son of God. So should we, if we want eternal life.

God has put in the hands of every believer, the power to impact peoples lives for time and eternity – the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:8). Having ourselves been saved through the ministration of the gospel – we must remain willing vessels by which the lost are reached by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

May we all be encouraged by the awesome love of God and his ability to deliver us from sin. May we react to Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection in the correct way.

If you have ever doubted that Jesus is risen from the dead be encouraged, turn to the word of God and investigate Jesus, for once you seriously begin your investigation, the living God will open the eyes of your heart and you will discover the truth about Jesus.

If we seek him with all our heart we will find him, and once we have and we bow our knees to him by faith, he will become our Lord and Saviour, forgive our sins and give us the gift of eternal life. The Holy Spirit will come to live with us and give us the power to live a life that is pleasing to him. The possession of the Holy Spirit will be a token of our eternal life.