Christ Jesus is Risen
Mark 16:1 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.
They did not know that Nicodemus had already wrapped the body in spices for his burial.
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
It was the beginning of the third day, a Sunday. We celebrate the new life, the new beginning of the church by meeting on Sunday. Sunday was also the collection day for offerings for the persecuted church in Jerusalem. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, he is our Sabbath.
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
They came in faith, hoping that someone would help them remove the stone. The stone was sealed by the Romans and a guard put in place to prevent that stone from being moved. Then something happened, something miraculous.
Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5 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.
Mat 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:6 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.
Luke 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luke 24:8 And they remembered his words,
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.
The Faithful follower
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.
The angel had frightened them, but the angel also gave them a message:
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.
Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Mark 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mark 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Mary was the first to see the risen Jesus and was sent to tell the men. The first sent with the good news was a woman, Mary. She had earlier been cleansed of devils, but Jesus had made her free. She was perhaps the most loyal and loving follower of Jesus.
Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Time for correction
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mark 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
They had lost their trust and belief in the Lord, because he did not immediately set up his kingdom. They wanted to have important positions beside him as he ruled. This would come in time, but first Jesus must make the way through his shed blood and resurrection. They did not hear him when he spoke of this.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Listen, we may be disappointed by others and lose our trust in them, but NEVER lose faith in Jesus!
Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
He upbraided them: He expressed disappointment in or displeasure with them for conduct that is blameworthy or in need of correction.
Jesus himself appeared before them, and he was not pleased with their whining and unbelief. Love corrects according to truth. This is how we exhort; according to the righteous word of God, in love. He did not sit there and listen to their whining. How many of us whine in unbelief? Why not trust in Jesus? Believe in him now, for when he comes he will reward those who are looking for him.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Ambassadors to all
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
After upbraiding them for lack of faith, he gives them a commission. Go, as you go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature. Some are teaching that God has chosen his people, so we do not need to go out and preach. This is a lie, that we need not go out and preach, for Jesus commands that we go out and preach to every soul, not to just those chosen, for who knows who they are unless they preach to them?
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
First, you must be born-again and have the Holy Spirit of God. We do not tempt God by handling snakes and drinking poison, yet if serving him, obeying him through the Spirit of God these things can occur. Casting out devils in Jesus' name, speaking in new tongues, as in Acts chapter two. Paul was bitten by a serpent as he was in God's will and was not harmed.
Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Acts 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Acts 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
In strange lands, we bless what we are given to eat and God keeps us from what may have been harmful or sickening to us. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. This requires faith and the presence of God. It is not of the flesh or of man's power. The flesh must be humbled before God and we are to be moved by the Holy Spirit.
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Signs follow preaching
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Paul gives us another account of what Jesus did.
1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Cor 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Cor 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1 Cor 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1 Cor 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Read the accounts in the other gospels for more details. Luke describes his departure in the book of Acts.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
After Pentecost, they had the boldness of the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel. The Holy Spirit is truth, peace and love.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Fearlessly they went forth.
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
First the word of God, with signs following in confirmation. Let us not be a ministry seeking signs alone. We must preach the word. We are not show business to entertain, but servants. The Lord will build His church.
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