Resurrection Day

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Mark 16 NLT

9 ¶  After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.

·        Sunday – the new day of rest.

·        Those who have been forgiven much, love much. (Luke 7:47)

·        Why did Jesus appear first to Mary Magdalene? Because she was there.

o   If we wish to be a part of Jesus doing miracles, we need to be present at the place where miracles are happening.

o   If we want a paycheck, we need to show up at work.

·        Jesus didn’t come to Mary … Mary went to Him!

o   She didn’t give up on her dream of serving Him.

o   She was committed to serve Him in life and in death, in the good days and in the difficult times.

10  She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.

·        Everyone handles grief differently.

·        I am often sad about a circumstance or situation, but I have learned to not allow myself to be worried, become afraid, or get depressed.

·        The disciples were worried, afraid, and dysfunctional.

·        While Mary was working, the disciples were weeping.

·        While Mary was going, the disciples were grieving.

11  But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

·        This event is a picture of what world evangelism is like.

·        It is repeated over and again each day

·        People sent like Mary was to go and tell … they go and tell the lost and hurting, the fearful and worried … and often people refuse to believe.

·        So, what does Jesus do? He just keeps sending more witnesses …

12  Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country.

·        According to Luke (Chapter 24) these two followers were aware of Mary’s story and how she claimed to have seen Jesus alive … but they didn’t believe her.

·        Jesus is not going to stop trying to get through to you at the first no.

·        Jesus appeared to these two men personally … He walked with them and talked with them … and finally they believed.

·        What was the first thing they wanted to do?

13  They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

·        The 11 disciples were determined to wallow in their misery and no amount of encouragement from friends was going to make things better.

·        “Pray for me.” “Quote scriptures to me.” “Tell me the testimony of how God helped you in your time of need.” And try hard to make me feel better … but I’m not going to let go of my pain, my worry and disappointment. “My dream died!” (Yep … and one day you are going to die too … get over it! Get up and get back into the game.)

·        The disciples still didn’t believe … “no one believed them.”

·        But guess what … Jesus is not going to stop at the second “no” either.

14 ¶  Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

·        Misery loves company … “they were eating together” … Be careful when you’re hurt, sad, or fearful that you don’t surround yourself with hurt, sad, and fearful people.

·        Notice – they weren’t too sad to eat …

·        Jesus appeared to them and He wasn’t all that happy.

·        When I see Jesus, I hope the first thing He does is hug me with a smile on His face instead of rebuke me for being hard hearted and stubborn.

·        They finally saw past their sorrows when they saw Jesus.

John 20:29  Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

The resurrection of Jesus sets Him apart from every other religious martyr people have claimed to be their God. Jesus is alive. We have the written records and sworn testimonies of several eyewitnesses. This well-documented historical fact has completely changed the world in the past 2000 years.

The life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the most told story in every generation since. And the Bible is the most sold, the most read, the most quoted, and the most followed book ever in the history of the world.

I’ve been to the Garden Tomb, and I am here to tell you He is not there, Jesus is alive! I believe the witness of Mary and the story of the two men on the road to Emmaus, and the accounts of the disciples. Plus, I’ve experienced the life change that comes from knowing Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord.

You can know Him today by simply inviting Him into your heart. He will hear your prayer and forgive you of your sins and save your soul. Everything begins to change, just like it did for the disciples, when you believe. For the lost and hurting today; for the worried and fearful today; for the disappointed and depressed today:

“Believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved!” (Acts 16:31)

For those who have already believed … Jesus has a personal word for you today. It’s the same word He spoke to those who believed in Him on that first Resurrection Day.

Mark 16:15  And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

Tell the Good News everywhere you go this week. Jesus is alive!

Let’s pray …