Today, we're talking about the grave is empty. Our theme for the year is stand. And those who really have a revelation... of the resurrection... live life differently. I'm not sure.
We know this morning that there are millions across this nation around the world that will attend Easter resurrection celebration and they will know that Jesus rose from the dead but they will not understand revelation has not yet been given to them that it was for them they'll even sing songs but not know it for them it's amazing isn't it and today in our message we're going to examine that because I can't imagine what it would have been like to be the early disciples and those who are following Jesus to come to the tomb and realize that Jesus is not there and they had no understanding. So let's look in the Gospel of Mark. There's several Gospels of course that we could go to and we get a fuller understanding of the whole story if we were to read all of them. But I'm just going to take Mark because he's short to the point.
Mark chapter 16 this is God's word. Follow along as I read it beginning in
verse 1. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices so they might go to a goad to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week. Just after sunrise. They were on their way to the tomb. And they asked each other, who will roll? Roll the stone away. From the entrance of the tomb. And when they looked up. They saw that the stone. Which was very. Which was very large. Had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb. They saw a young man. Dressed in white robe. Sitting on the right side. And they were alarmed. Don't be afraid, he said. You are looking for Jesus. The Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they live? Where they live? Tell his disciples and Peter. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Just as he told you, trembling. And bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone. Because they were. Maybe you have never thought about. What it would have been like. Knowing now in retrospect. They had no expectation. No understanding of this resurrection. I've been thinking about that.
