Today, we begin our study of Mark 16 where the Lord Jesus had been crucified on His cross and buried in a borrowed tomb. This chapter begins with the darkest day in human history. All of redemptive history came to its apex that particular day, and the disciples of the Lord Jesus were no where to be found. Undoubtedly, they were hiding out, fearing for their lives.
In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen."
It was six o'clock on Sunday morning and the Sabbath was over.
This fact explains why Christians meet on Sunday. It is due to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. And that's why we read over and over in the book of Acts they gathered together on the first day of the week, not the seventh day of the week.
Mark is the only gospel writer to mention this Sabbath in connection with the cross and the resurrection. The Sabbath or the Saturday before the resurrection of the Lord Jesus was the darkest day in history. It was a day of halted hopes, a day of dashed dreams, a day of broken hearts. Every hour during that day was torture for those early followers.
Although not in the exact same way, we too, struggle like those first century believers. Nighttime can be terrifying, very lonely, and very isolating. And the person who is bereaving someone that they have lost, does not sleep. This explains why these women rose so early on that Sunday morning to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus. It is likely they did not sleep.
Although not in the exact same way, we too, struggle like those first century believers. Nighttime can be terrifying, very lonely, and very isolating. And the person who is bereaving someone that they have lost, does not sleep. This explains why these women rose so early on that Sunday morning to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus. It is likely they did not sleep.
In that context, hopelessness was no stranger for them. In all of our lives hopelessness arrives like an uninvited guest. Yet, hopelessness is useful, and in many circumstances, necessary to give birth to hope. Hope can be a beautiful thing, because it gives us direction and grants us a sense of purpose and meaning. Hopelessness has caused me to lean in to hear God more profoundly. It is then, I have discovered, that I hear the truth the best.
In v.3 of today's passage we read, "And they said among themselves, 'Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?'"
These three women who were the last at the cross were the first to the tomb. As they approached the tomb, they wondered how they would be able to get into the tomb to apply the spices to the decomposing body of the Lord Jesus. They didn't think of this detail before leaving the house because that is what love does; it does not consider the difficulties at hand. Love just loves. And, they wanted desperately to get to the body of the Lord Jesus. And, they could not go Saturday evening for it was the Sabbath and there were laws against that. So, they had to wait until the next morning. They weren't mindful of the details during that most hopeless of moments.
These three women who were the last at the cross were the first to the tomb. As they approached the tomb, they wondered how they would be able to get into the tomb to apply the spices to the decomposing body of the Lord Jesus. They didn't think of this detail before leaving the house because that is what love does; it does not consider the difficulties at hand. Love just loves. And, they wanted desperately to get to the body of the Lord Jesus. And, they could not go Saturday evening for it was the Sabbath and there were laws against that. So, they had to wait until the next morning. They weren't mindful of the details during that most hopeless of moments.
Neither did they expect to discover a risen Savior when they arrived at the tomb. They clearly were prepared to apply the spices to the decomposing body of the Lord Jesus. This smacks in the face of those who blame the early believers of making up the resurrection story. They would not have brought spices had they made the story up. And, all of these details just underscores the fact that during that weekend despair appeared to triumph over hope.
In v.4 of today's passage we read, "But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large."
The stone that covered the entrance to Joseph's borrowed tomb weighed at least a thousand pounds, perhaps two thousand. But when the women arrived, the stone had been rolled away. According to Matthew's account, an angel had come and rolled back the stone. The stone was not rolled away so that the Lord Jesus could exit the tomb, it had been rolled away so that His followers could see inside.
Those who were not believers would not have stolen the body of the Lord Jesus, if they had they would have played right into the resurrection story. And, if they had, they would have gladly produced it in order to disprove His resurrection. The believers would not have taken the body of the Lord Jesus, for there were guards stationed at the tomb, and the stone was sealed. And, they would not have died for a lie.
Those who were not believers would not have stolen the body of the Lord Jesus, if they had they would have played right into the resurrection story. And, if they had, they would have gladly produced it in order to disprove His resurrection. The believers would not have taken the body of the Lord Jesus, for there were guards stationed at the tomb, and the stone was sealed. And, they would not have died for a lie.
In v.5 of today's passage we read, "And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed."
The angel appeared to these women as a "young man," but the other gospel records tell us that it was indeed an angel. Luke and John say there were two angels. Matthew and Mark mention only one angel. The reason one angel is mentioned is no doubt because the angel was the spokesman for the two angels that were there. Two of them were there, one was there who spoke to them, and the one who spoke with them was the one that they mentioned.
According to John 20:7 the wrapping around the head of the Lord Jesus was not just thrown aside. The wrapping was neatly folded, and left where the head of the Lord Jesus had laid. When someone had finished eating a meal in their culture, they would have risen from the table, wiped their hands and face, and they would waded up their handkerchief and tossed it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I’m done eating." But if the master got up from the table, folded his handkerchief, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table because the servant knew that the folded handkerchief meant, "I’m not finished eating yet." The folded napkin of the Lord Jesus that was left behind in that tomb that day meant, "I’m coming back!"
The folded handkerchief is a subtle reminder that the Lord Jesus will one day soon come back. In the moment that the folded handkerchief was noticed, the disciples were given a whole new perspective on that otherwise hopeless weekend. Hope always swallows up hopelessness and despair. Without the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the cross would mean nothing. In fact, the teachings and the works of the Lord Jesus would mean nothing, because without the resurrection there would be no salvation and there would be no hope.
The folded handkerchief is a subtle reminder that the Lord Jesus will one day soon come back. In the moment that the folded handkerchief was noticed, the disciples were given a whole new perspective on that otherwise hopeless weekend. Hope always swallows up hopelessness and despair. Without the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the cross would mean nothing. In fact, the teachings and the works of the Lord Jesus would mean nothing, because without the resurrection there would be no salvation and there would be no hope.
