Read: Mark 16:1-8
Mark tells us that Mary Magdalene, another Mary, and Salome were present at the crucifixion of Jesus and that the two Marys had witnessed where Jesus was buried. Now that the Sabbath had passed and they were free to move about again, these ladies decided to go to the tomb in order to properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
As they were walking to the tomb, they were wondering to themselves how they were going to get the stone rolled away from the entrance. I find this astonishing. They had not thought through their plans and talked themselves out of going. Something compelled them to go, and so they went, even though they had no clue how they would get inside the tomb.
Once they arrived, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away and an angel was sitting inside. He told them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you” (Mark 16:6-7).
These words were meant to give comfort to the women, yet they had the opposite effect. They trembled, and they were in shock. They ran away and said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. That is all that Mark tells us about the resurrection eyewitnesses. What are we to make of this shocking conclusion?
It seems that we are meant to linger here and consider what these women were experiencing at that moment. We know the rest of the story, so it is difficult to try and imagine how those who were the first to hear the news would have received it.
It says that they fled. They didn’t stick around and investigate the scene. They couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Their initial reaction was to run, to get as far away from the tomb as possible. Pause and think about that.
Next, it says that they trembled and were astonished. They were simultaneously knocked off their feet and frozen in place. Their whole world had been turned upside down and yet they could watch it unravel in slow motion. Pause, again, and contemplate how they felt.
What do you think was more shocking to them, that Jesus had died, or that He had risen from the dead? They knew that Jesus had made enemies. They knew that He could have been killed at any moment. Perhaps they were prepared for that. Jesus had told them on numerous occasions that He was going to die, yet He had also mentioned that He would rise again. That small detail had gotten past them.
Mark leaves us by saying that they were so afraid, they didn’t say anything to anyone. Again, we know that didn’t last for very long. They eventually told the disciples, but how do you build up the courage to repeat, out loud, what the angel had said? They couldn’t put the experience into words.
Maybe we are too familiar with the story. We don’t necessarily have a hard time sitting and lingering over the crucifixion, but we might find it difficult to make sense of the resurrection. The cross reveals our sins. That leads us to confession. It demonstrates how much we are loved by God that He would give us His one and only Son to die in our place. What does the resurrection teach us?
The resurrection teaches us that God honors faith and obedience. When we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, we are surrendering our life to God. I Corinthians 15:36 says, “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” If we are going to bear fruit for God, we must first die to ourselves. Then He can raise us up to walk in newness of life. In other words, you must be born again. Jesus’ resurrection shows us the fruit of obedience and faith in God.
Have you died to yourself? Has God raised you to life? Are you bearing the fruit of faith and obedience? Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Jesus, and advance His Kingdom.