Easter Sunday: Mark 16
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
On this Easter Sunday, Pastor Jenn concluded our series in the gospel of Mark by looking at the story of the resurrection. The two Marys and Salome headed to the tomb early on Sunday morning to prepare Jesus’ dead body for burial. They were undoubtedly devastated, confused and grieving, but once they got to the tomb, they were greeted by an angel who said, “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:6-7)
Jesus, as the crucified one, had died cursed—not because of his own sin, but because he took upon himself the sin of the whole world. Crucifixion was the worst possible way someone could die, yet Jesus, God in the flesh, was willing to take our place on that cross because of his love for each of us.
He died, but he didn’t stay dead. On the third day, God raised him to life! And because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can know that through Christ, each of us can also experience resurrection. Death doesn’t have the last word—only Jesus has the last word!
And in Mark’s gospel, the angel tells the women to tell the disciples and Peter, who are hiding out of fear, that Jesus is coming after them.
Pastor Jenn concluded the message with the question, “Do all roads lead to God?” What if, instead of asking that question, it’s really about the road God takes to get to us? What if God is the one who comes after us when we are hiding? Through Jesus, this is exactly what God did. He made a way to bridge the gap between the Divine and us, and it is through the cross and the empty tomb.
This week, take some time to reflect on not only the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross on your behalf, but also on the significance of the empty tomb. Imagine Jesus leaving that tomb to pursue you. What is your response? Are you willing to go all in and follow him into a life of resurrection, redemption, forgiveness, and healing?