The Day That Changed Everything

Mark, a disciple of the apostle Peter, recorded the things that took place during the time Jesus walked the earth, up until the time of His crucifixion and His resurrection. Mark’s account of the crucifixion of Christ, described how the chief priests and scribes, those who passed by and even those who were being crucified with Him mocked, derided,  and shouted abuses at Him.

He was put to open shame and humiliation as He hung on the cross for six hours on a public thoroughfare. The religious people mocked Jesus, using the Scriptures - God’s very words against Him.

The thing that is evident regarding the events that led up to Jesus’ trial and crucifixion is that He did not have to be there, he did not have to endure the accusations and shame, the pain and the humiliation. But He chose to do so, remaining on the cross till His work was finished.

As His followers watched him suffer at a distance, completely helpless and in despair, it was the darkest hour for them and for all of humanity. Jesus died there, was hastily anointed, wrapped in a cloth, laid in the tomb of a disciple Joseph of Arimathea and then a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance, end of story. These events all happened so quickly as people were preparing for the Sabbath.

All those who followed, worshipped, and adored Jesus had their hopes shattered and many were scattered.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” 4 And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large.

5  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him.

7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8  And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mark 16:1-8 NASB).

Mark gives the reader evidence of the resurrection by the testimonies of:

• The Empty Tomb

• The Angels

• The Encounter

The Empty Tomb

In verse 1: Mark records the eyewitness accounts of three women who were at the crucifixion. They saw Jesus die, watched as He was taken down from the cross and saw where His body was laid (in the tomb of Joseph Arimathea).

Joseph had already purchased 75 pounds of spices and quickly anointed the body of Jesus, but these women who had been with the Lord during His ministry, waited until the 3rd day so they could bring more spices to anoint His body.

In verse 3 we read that the women hurried to the tomb talking along the way about who would roll the enormous stone away from the entrance for them.

Verse 4: While they were on their way they had no knowledge of the official sealing of the tomb by the Sanhedrin nor of the posting of a guard (Matthew 27). They had no idea that an earthquake had just occurred (Matthew 28:2), and all that happened with the guards who ran away after seeing an angel ascend from heaven and roll away the stone. All they knew as they approached the tomb, was that the stone had already been rolled away.

In verse 5: Step into the tomb expecting to see a dead, decaying body lying there. Instead they see a young vibrant man dressed in white sitting there and they were greatly astonished, awe-struck, in a terrified way and in a panic and then he talks to them.

The Testimony of the Angels

Verse 6: The first thing this angel said was:

Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see here is the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6 NASB).

At this point they saw the empty tomb and heard the angel's proclamation, but it did not change anything, they did not believe He was risen. In fact, no one at that time denied the tomb was empty, the guards didn’t deny the empty tomb, neither did the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem deny the empty tomb, for the majority of people, it didn’t change anything in their minds. They assumed that the body was stolen.

God sent his messengers to disclose to the women that Jesus had indeed been resurrected. In verse 6 the angel said, “He has risen.”

In his gospel, Mark is stating that the crucifixion and the resurrection are historical and factual. On a given date, in a defined place, this same man Jesus, you saw crucified and buried 3 days earlier, has come forth from the tomb. He is not among the dead, He has been resurrected.

Resurrection Sunday is an event which Christians consider the foundation and core of the faith.

This is why the church meets on Sundays because Christians understand the priority and significance of the resurrection.

We have the promise that one day we will be raised with a physical resurrection in a form that will be perfect, joyful, and eternal.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52).

We can say the same for every person we know who has had an encounter with the risen Lord and placed their faith in Him as their Redeemer and Savior.

No other religion can make and guarantee the promise of a physical resurrection. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Christ’s resurrection forever changed human history and He did not expect people to believe blindly in what He told them about himself, that that they would blindly believe that He would rise from the dead.

The Testimony of the Encounter

Verse 7 - The angel tells the women to do 2 things: First, go and tell the disciples and Peter that Christ is risen. The message the angel wanted the women to communicate to the downhearted, fearful disciples was not one of condemnation but about Jesus’ victory over death. 

The second thing the angel said was, “He is going to Galilee and you will see Him there.” The angelic message serves as a word of comfort and reassurance that the disciples and Peter will find forgiveness and restoration when they meet Jesus in Galilee.

Verse 8 - After hearing the angel speak, the women were frightened and astonished as they left the tomb. This reaction is understandable in the light of the empty tomb, the sudden angelic appearance, and the astonishing announcement.

This revelation that Jesus was resurrected totally rocked their world and they were probably not sure how to explain what they had witnessed. Meanwhile, after the women left, Peter, John, and Mary raced to the tomb.

The men entered the tomb, saw the grave clothes, and then left. Mary stayed behind, weeping outside the tomb. When she looked into the tomb, she saw two angels (John 20:12), and explained her grief to them, still believing Jesus was dead and that someone had stolen His body.

So we can see, it wasn't the empty tomb that changed her mind and heart, nor was it the angel’s message (though all of this probably played a part).

He had to say her name “Mary” - just to get her attention. When she realized it was the Lord she said “Rabboni” - teacher.

That same day Jesus met Mary, He met the other women after they left the tomb, He met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), and that evening He met the disciples in the upper room. That day, that encounter with the resurrected Christ changed everything for them.

Luke records in Acts:

To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3 AMP).

The resurrection of Christ not only changed the course of history but for those who have personally encountered the Savior and understood its significance for their own lives, it has changed the course of their lives both now and forever.

Besides the promise of a future resurrection, why is this significant for all people, everywhere today?

I would encourage you to investigate the truth claims in this gospel. Mark is challenging the reader to take a step of faith to meet the Savior. “Go to Galilee and see Him.”

This is the challenge for people today, there is the empty tomb, there are the testimonies of the angels and the eyewitnesses -

This gospel message of salvation is so beautiful; and we are to take into the entire world so they can hear it.  Think back to your salvation: How precious did that grace appear the hour you first believed? It is a privilege and joy to share the beauty of that encounter we had with Jesus to everyone around us.

We are so thankful for the empty tomb, so thankful for the proclamation of the angels that “He is risen.” So blessed by all the eyewitnesses accounts, but the greatest blessing you will ever experience is when you encounter the risen Lord yourself, when you place your faith in Him for your salvation.