Mark 16- The Resurrection of Christ

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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.And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. Mark 16:1-4

There is a good reason why Easter is the biggest day in Christianity, because as the Apostle Paul said “Without the Resurrection our faith would be worthless” (1 Corinthians 15:17) The Resurrection of Christ is the central theme of our faith, all our hope and victory is through the Resurrection of Jesus. Because He lives, we can face tomorrow! Jesus has defeated sin and death forever!

Notice , the woman discovered the tomb on Sunday morning, this is stated in all the 4 gospels. This is why Christians began worshipping on Sunday morning, to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, there is no paganism or conspiracy theory about Sunday. It became “The Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10) when Jesus walked out of that Tomb!

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. 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. 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 16:5-7

The greatest words spoken “He Is Risen” , the grip of sin and death have been broken by Christ, the head of Satan was crushed, Jesus has now reconciled us back to our Heavenly Father through his death and resurrection. If the resurrection didn’t happen, we would still be dead in our sins, we wouldn’t have the living hope of Jesus, because He lives , we can now always face tomorrow!

So what were they told to do “Go tell everyone” , God wants us to share the good news (gospel) about the Resurrection of Christ, because of what Jesus accomplished, there will always be good news in a dark world. We have victory because of Christ alone!

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. 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. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. Mark 16:8-10

Notice again it states “Jesus was risen on the first day of the week (Sunday)” There is no mistake Christ was Risen on Sunday, this is why Sunday is The Lord’s Day. Secondly notice what Mary did after Jesus told her He is Risen, she went and told them! Mary and the disciples were fulfilling “The Great Commision” “Go and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) These are our marching orders!

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, as the old hymn celebrates! Alleluia! Share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone you meet! We have victory over Sin and Death because Jesus Is Risen! Amen!

Mark 15- The Burial of Christ

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And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. Mark 15:42-44

One of the debates of Christianity is “What day did Jesus die”? The long Church tradition has been Good “Holy” Friday, which is correct based on the scriptures. Verse 42 makes it clear, Jesus died on the Preparation Day, which is Friday. The Sabbath is on Saturday, so Friday was always known as “Preparation Day” a day to get ready for the Sabbath, since you were limited on what you could do as far as cooking, cleaning, ect

The prophecy of Isaiah 53 is amazing in detail, as it predicted Jesus would not only die with the wicked, but with a rich man, being Joseph of Arimathaea. This is also clear evidence that not all religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah. As not only was Joseph rich but he was also on the council of Sanhedrin. This historical evidence also refutes any false religions claim that Jesus was never buried

And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. Mark 15:45-47

The tomb, which Satan and all the wicked people thought was their victory over Christ, became our evidence of our victory over sin and death through Jesus. Little did they know on Sunday morning, Jesus would walk out of that grave and reign forevermore. It’s amazing how God used the hearts of men like Joseph to orchestrate this and also used the hearts of wicked men like Pilate. God is always in control

The stone which they sealed the tomb with, was never thought to be rolled away forever. The stone was no match for the power of God, who raised Christ from the dead, crushing Satan forever! The victory that nobody saw coming, o death where is your sting! O grave where is your victory! Jesus overcame it all ! Christ tasted death for just a short time, so we may never have to, Amen!

Mark 15- The Death of Christ

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And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. Mark 15:33-35

The darkest moment in the history of the world, when Christ was abandoned on the cross and the wrath of God was poured down upon him for the penalty of our sins! Jesus was the only one who could take this cup, he was the only one who could be an atonement for our sins. And while it was the darkest day, it was also a day of victory as Christ crushed the head of Satan, defeating sin and death forever!

As prophecied in Psalm 22, My God, My God , why have you forsaken me? The moment Jesus became the sacrificial lamb for the wages of our sins. The fulfillment was being paid, as Jesus would justify us before The Father , by being the ransom of sin for his elect

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Mark 15:36-38

And when Christ fulfilled the debt for our sins, the veil was torn. The veil that separated us from God has now been removed because we have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. We have now been reconciled back to God through Jesus, not only can we now stand in the presence of God, but God now lives inside of us!

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. Mark 15:39-41

The blood of Christ that was shed for the world, even the Roman soldier confessed Jesus is the Son of God. The New Covenant is not just for Israel, but for everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord, Jew and Gentile. The veil has been torn, the ransom has been paid, we are now children of God through Jesus Christ

If you want salvation, you must come to the cross of Christ, you must repent of your sins, have faith that Jesus is your Lord, and receive the Holy Spirit, It is finished in Jesus name Amen!

Mark 15- The Cross of Christ

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And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. Mark 15:21-24

When we look at the crucifixion of Christ, there are so many details that have symbolic meanings. First we see a man named Simon who helped Jesus carry the cross with him to Calvary. This is symbolic of ourselves as Jesus commanded us “ To deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow him” (Matthew 16:24) Remember Jesus took our place on that cross, we deserve that punishment on the cross, but Jesus took our place

All the details were prophesied hundreds of years ago in Psalm 22, the offering of a drink, the crucifixion, and dividing of garments, all the details were foretold by God before this even ever happened. 

And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. Mark 15:25-28

Again more prophecy is fulfilled which was foretold in Isaiah 53, Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God was killed with the sinners. Jesus became our curse,  so we can be redeemed for our sins! One thief mocked Christ even to his death, while the other thief confess Christ and received amazing grace, salvation that could only be earned by Jesus

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. Mark 15:29-32

The religious leaders of Israel taunted and mocked as they crucified their own Messiah. The blindness of their eyes and hardness of their hearts was fully displayed, as Jesus told them “These people honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him” (Matthew 15:8) If the religious leaders truly knew God, they would have known Jesus is their Messiah

All this took place to give us eternal life, to reconcile us back to our Heavenly Father. Jesus took our place on the cross, Hallelujah to the Lamb of God, Amen!

Mark 16- The Ascension of Christ

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So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16:19

As Christians we often celebrate the different events of Christ’s life, such as the Incarnation at Christmas, His death on the cross on Good Friday, and of course the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. The Ascension of Christ is one of those important events that is often overlooked by the Church today

The early Church felt it was a central doctrine as it was in the early Creeds (Apostles and Nicene) however how many Churches today are celebrating and teaching about the Ascension today? Christ being Ascended into Heaven is an essential doctrine because it was a sign and accomplished several things

First we notice in verse 19, Jesus The Lord is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. The right hand of God is the highest place of exaltation, there is no other position higher that anyone could obtain, and there is nobody else who could ever obtain this position except Jesus the Christ

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen Mark 16:20

As we notice in the next scripture, when Christ was ascended, then his disciples went forth and preached the gospel everywhere! The responsibility of teaching went from Jesus to his disciples, we are responsible as Christians to preach the gospel to everyone and everywhere as stated in the Great Commision!

Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1) The Ascension completes the exaltation of Christ! Also because Christ has ascended , he sent the promise of The Holy Spirit (Acts 1, Luke 24, John 16) The Holy Spirit has equipped the Church to be Christ Body and fulfill his work here on Earth

Because of the Ascension of Christ , we know that Jesus is sitting on the throne at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, Jesus is in complete control as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Amen

Mark 15- Crown of Thorns

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And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! Mark 15:16-18

The Crown of Thorns was a symbol meant for shame and humiliation, but actually it was for our redemption. As the Roman Soldiers mockingly put that crown on Jesus head, they didn’t realize they were crowning the true King of King and Lord of Lords! Every drop of blood shed by those thorns and nails, was for the atonement of our sins. 

They mockingly saluted Jesus as the King of the Jews, what the Romans soldiers didn’t realize is one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and King! Every knee will bow in Heaven, on Earth, and in Hell, Jesus is Lord and King over ALL

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:19-20

Notice they put the color of purple on Christ, this is the color of a King. While the Roman soldiers were doing this mockingly , they were actually fulfilling prophecy and affirming who Jesus really is, the King of all Kings! Satan put the evil in their hearts to kill an innocent man, but God in his wisdom and glory used this moment to crush the head of Satan, and defeat sin and death forever!

Jesus took the punishment for our sins, he allowed the wicked to mock, beat, and crucify him, because Christ loved us enough to take our place! We deserve to be on that cross, not Jesus! Until you understand this, you will never understand the grace of God

As Jesus prophesied he is being led like a lamb to the slaughter, Jesus is the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world! Thank you Jesus! Amen!