Foundations 10 Christ’s Resurrection

Mark 16

1. Background:

On the last night with His disciples, Jesus prepares them for His betrayal and crucifixion. Once it happens, He says they will forsake Him, God will bring them together again. He quotes a prophecy that spoke of the day when He would be killed and humiliated.  

“And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.”

Mark 14:27-28

Peter being confident in himself assures Jesus that he would never deny or forsake Him.

“But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.”

Mark 14:29

Shortly after Jesus is arrested and all the disciples flee from Him.

“‘And they all forsook him, and fled.”

Mark 14:50

Before the night is over Peter denied Him three times.

“And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”

Mark 14:66-72

Next Jesus is crucified and it appears that Jesus’ mission is a total failure.  All His disciples have fled from Him, seemingly given up any hope.  Their hope was for Him to be alive and reign as king, but not that is all seemingly lost. 

On the third day since Jesus has been in the tomb, the women brought spices to anoint His body.  They wonder who will roll the heavy stone away for them. But their surprised to see it has already been opened.

They’re greeted by an angel that tells them Jesus is alive.

“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.” 

Verse 6

Then the angel reminds them what Jesus said before He was crucified: “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.”

Verse 7

2. What Can We Observe About God?

God gives us the resurrection of Christ to be our ultimate hope even after all our failures.

By the time Jesus has been crucified, the disciples had completely given up on Jesus.  They had abandoned Him during His trial.  No one came to His defense. Even Peter was ashamed to be numbered with Him that he denied knowing Him three times.  The men that Jesus chose to be His apostle all failed Him, breaking their promises of faithfulness.

“³¹ But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.”

Mark 14:31

Their complete failure was their unbelief and their unfaithfulness.  They failed to understand who Jesus is and why He came.  They didn’t understand the purpose of His death and they failed to believe when rose from the dead.   It is clear if the disciples are going to live in victory, it won’t be because of their efforts!  They have totally been defeated and have given up on Jesus!

But then Jesus rose from the dead and that changes everything.  His resurrection proves that death cannot stop Him.  His resurrection proves the religious leaders were wrong about Him.  They had accused Him for blasphemy when He said He is the Christ, and He is God.

“And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 15:62

His resurrection proves He is God in human flesh, the Son of God.  He is worthy to be worshipped as God.  Once the disciples saw He was alive and could not refute it, they worshipped Him—something Jews would not do unless they were convinced He is God!

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.”

Matthew 28:16-17

Even then there were people unwilling to trust Him.  His resurrection forces everyone to concede He is who He says He is.  He is God in the flesh and is worthy to be worshipped and obeyed. 

His response to His disciples who fled reveal His goodness and patience to us.  The resurrection only benefits us.  God doesn’t gain anything by convincing us to obey Him.  He died to pay for our sin save us from hell.  All along the way, man has failed Him and continues to struggle trusting Him.  But the resurrection will always be there to provide hope after all the failure.  Even after the disciples fall and flee away, He still meets with them and proves to them He has come to save sinners. Jesus is Lord and He is alive.

3. How does this passage point to Jesus and the Gospel.

Placing our faith in the resurrection of Christ is our only hope of forgiveness and eternal life.

Record of the Gospel leaves no other Savior whereby we can trust.  Can you put your trust in the religious leaders who crucified the Son of God?  Can you put your trust in Peter who denied the Lord three times?  Can you put your trust in either government that took part in condemning Jesus to the cross?  We can only reasonable trust the only One in the book that rose from the dead and defeated the grave.  He is able to give us life because He has life in Himself.  The grave cannot hold Him.  If we cannot deny that Jesus rose from the dead, then what reason do we have to not believe His word?

^“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Verse 16

4. Application:

He gave us a job to do.  We must tell the world that Jesus is alive the grave and that cannot be ignored. People can be saved from sin and avoid the coming judgment altogether in Christ!

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Verse 15