Faith and the Resurrection - Mark 16 Wednesday Bible Study Notes

 

      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. 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. 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. 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. 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 said..”See the place where they laid Him”:

The actual event of Jesus’ resurrection is nowhere described, but the discovery of it is recorded in some detail. Here, the women who intended to give Jesus’ body a more proper preparation for burial discovered that the stone was rolled away from the tomb and that the body of Jesus was not inside the tomb.

Those women were later grateful that the angel told them to see the place where they laid Him. It would have – it should have – been enough to merely hear the testimony of the angel. Nevertheless, when they saw it, it gave them ground to stand on even more solid than the testimony of an angel. “One eye-witness is better than twenty ear-witnesses; men will believe what you have seen if they do not believe what you have heard.”

What does the resurrection mean?

It means there is hope! All will die, but not all will experience the second death. This is because of Jesus and his atoning death for all who have trusted their lives to him. Paul writes that Jesus was raised from the dead to be the “first fruits” of the faithful.

There are several examples in the Bible of people being resuscitated before this, such as the widow’s son in the days of Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Lazarus (John 11:38-44). Each of these was resuscitated from death, but none of them were resurrected like Jesus. Each of them was raised in the same body they died in and raised from the dead to eventually die again. The Resurrection of Christ wasn’t just living again; it is living again in a new body, based on our old body, perfectly suited for life in eternity. Jesus was not the first one brought back from the dead, but He was the first and only one resurrected in this manner.

We should also say that Jesus still is risen. He ascended into heaven and continues to reign as resurrected man, still fully man and fully God.

So the resurrection is then proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.. It is proof that his teachings were not a waste of time for his disciples.. It is proof that He that addressed the multitudes in truth. It is yet more proof, after all of the miracles shown to everyone who followed Jesus or had contact with him, it took more proof since we are such doubters by our very nature.. since we have such little faith in anything.. It takes a lot of proof but once we have the proof is that belief that we achieve? … do we become believers and is that, faith if proof required us to believe in the first place? Remember that Jesus prizes “faith in him above all things. Because on “faith” all other things spiritual may be built and all things are possible… I wonder if requiring “proof” does not negate the countenance of what faith really is… Just a little food for thought…

The resurrection was also fulfilling the scriptures which was the main purpose for Christ being here to begin with.. It was proof that the profits of God were telling truth.. that they preached the gospel of Jesus before he was ever born. It was proof that God’s word is eternal…

“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. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.”

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them ( or reprimanded them) with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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.”

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Jesus gave us more “proof” because he knew that we needed it…Even his disciples tried his patience to the very last… How great is our task to believe without the presence of Christ in our midst, Without the “Proof” that they had from being with Jesus… How hard should we pray to overcome our natural skepticism..our natural need for “the proof”… How much do we need God’s help to have the “faith” that Jesus prized so highly? When do we stop asking for a sign or proof that he is there and pray for strength and faith instead..? I am so happy that Christ is perfect because who else but the Son of God could have had the patience that he exhibited with his disciples..And because of his patience and the work of the disciples we have today the wonderful record of the new testament and our church based in the truth of God. Here lies a wonderful example for us.. If in our heart our faith is strong and our lives are lives of righteousness isn’t it hard sometimes to tolerate the doubtful one, the nonbeliever or the person more vulnerable.. sometimes we think.. If I can do this you can do it too.. Buck up..get smart..stop whinning.. God helps those that help themselves… But Christ…our blessed Jesus had patience beyond measure.. It can only come from God my friends… Only by the grace of God can we have this spirit as we walk with him….

I hope all who have heard or read this short piece know this hope. Share this Good News with your friends..Have they ceased to trust in anything that they can do to save themselves? Have they yielded their hope completely to the cross of Christ? Do they need guidance from a brother or sister? If you know anyone who has not, don’t wait another day. Bring them the joy of the Good News with assurance that there is “HOPE”…But only through Jesus…

Almighty Lord God, give us true faith, and make that faith grow in us day by day. Also give us hope and love, so that we may serve our neighbors according to your will; through Jesus .

May the Lord show us the greatness of his goodness, that we overflow with thanks every day. May the Lord bless us abundantly with rest for the heart, power for virtue, wisdom for life, and patience in suffering. May the Lord bless each of us with joyful hope, and one day with the inexpressible joys of eternal life.

Amen

The meeting is now open for testimony and discussion…..