Key Thought

Mark wanted us to know two crucial things about Jesus. First, Jesus was mighty and powerful, something even the demons recognized and feared. Second, despite all of his power, he submitted himself to the will of God and went to the Cross to ransom us from sin and death. Mark knows Jesus was raised from the dead. But he uses the women and their bewildered fear remind us of the resurrection -- not because they doubted, but because they believed. Jesus changed everything in their understanding of the Messiah, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1) He was willing to go to the Cross even though he clearly had the power to prevent it. His dying didn't fit and they couldn't understand how this could be so. All their hopes had been dashed with his crucifixion and their lives are ruined with his death. On this morning, however, they found out he was raised from the dead and they were told this good news by an angel at Jesus' empty tomb. How could they not be bewildered and fearful? Their worlds were forever changed. If Jesus could rise from the dead, then what would happen next? If they followed Jesus, what could the resurrected Jesus do through them? And if Jesus could use them to "turn the world upside down" with his message and his follower's courage, what can he do with us? So let's join these faithful women at the empty tomb, bewildered and frightened, but full of expectation at the thought of what lies ahead for us!

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

The next day after the Sabbath day, Mary from Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought some sweet-smelling spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body. Very early on that day, the first day of the week, the women were going to the tomb. It was very early after sunrise. The women said to each other, "There is a large stone covering the entrance of the tomb. Who will move the stone for us?" Then the women looked and saw that the stone was moved. The stone was very large, but it was moved away from the entrance. The women walked into the tomb. They saw a young man there wearing a white robe. The man was sitting on the right side of the tomb. The women were afraid. But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one that was killed on a cross. He has risen from death! He is not here. Look, here is the place they put him when he was dead. Now go and tell his followers. And {be sure to} tell Peter. Tell them, 'Jesus is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there like he told you before.'" The women were very afraid and confused. They left the tomb and ran away. The women did not tell about what happened, because they were afraid. [Some of the oldest Greek copies of Mark end the book here.]

— Mark 16:1-8 (ERV)

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