SN - notes from 4/3/10
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Easter 2010
random observations from Mark 16
A. v1a - when Sabbath was passed…
observation - this means that saturday was over and sunday had begun - this makes it the 3rd day since He was crucified on friday.
B. v1b - Mary x 2 and Salome
observation 1 - who are all the Mary’s in the NT?
1) Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was of the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David. We read about her in many verses including Luke 1:26-32.
2) Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus - Luke 10:38-42
3) Mary Magdalene. Her name likely means “Belonging to Magdala.” This could stem from her being from the town of Magdala (or Magadan) - Luke 8:2. Jesus had removed 7 demons from her.
4) Mary, referred to as “The other Mary” in Matthew 27:61. She was the wife of Clopas (Alphaeus) and the mother of James the Less and Joses - Mt 27:56; John 19:25
5) Mary, the mother of John Mark and the aunt of Barnabas - Acts 12:12; Colossians 4:10
6) Mary of Rome. Paul sent greetings to her at Romans 16:6, and was spoken well of due to her “many labors” in behalf of the interests of the Roman congregation.
observation 2 - worship should always be original and never generic. Recall that Nicodemus had also bought 100 lbs. of spice in John 19:39 - they wanted to use their own.
C. v2+3 - they depart early and think about the tomb on the way
observation - it’s so cool how they stepped out in faith not thinking about the tomb enclosure or even the guards…and God removed both problems (v4).
D. v5 - they were alarmed…
observation 1 - alarmed = ekthambeomai = to be astounded (Mk 9:15), or distressed (Mk 14:33)
observation 2 - in context, they were likely seriously distressed - Jesus was not present and some other guy was. There are no substitutes to Jesus - anything else will always cause alarm.
E. don’t be alarmed b/c He was crucified!
observation - don’t be alarmed b/c now we know: GOD LOVES US: Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
F. v6b - don’t be alarmed b/c He is risen!
observation 1 - don’t be alarmed b/c now we have SALVATION - ‘If Christ has not been raised,…then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. … If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins’ (1 Cor. 15:14)
observation 2 - don’t be alarmed b/c now we have: LIFE MEANING - The resurrection of believers is important b/c if the dead do not rise we may as well adopt the motto ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ (1 Cor. 15:32).
observation 3 - don’t be alarmed b/c now we have: POWER - Paul speaks of his desire to know Christ ‘and the power of his resurrection’ (Phil. 3:10)
observation 4 - don’t be alarmed b/c now we have: FOCUS - ‘If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above … ’ (Col. 3:1).
observation 5 - don’t be alarmed b/c now we have:
HOPE - If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
G. v6c - don’t be alarmed b/c He is not here!
observation 1 - don’t be alarmed b/c He is busy restoring (Mk. 16:7).
observation 2 - don’t be alarmed b/c He is busy praying (Rom. 8:34)
observation 3 - don’t be alarmed b/c He is busy preparing (John 14:2-3)
APPLICATIONS:
1. The various alarms of life should be replaced by the love, restoration, and hope we have in the resurrected Jesus!
2. Apply Mark 16:14-15 - believe and preach.
