Resurrected!

April 1, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 16:6b NLT, the angel inside Jesus’ tomb speaking to the women: “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”

Jesus had told his followers that death could not hold him, but rising from the dead? They’d never seen anything like that! But early that Sunday morning, the women brought spices to care for the body. They were the first to see that the stone was already rolled away, and that Jesus had gone missing! The angel told them to inform Peter, the de facto new leader of the believers, that the risen Jesus would meet them in Galilee, just as he promised.

Some ancient manuscripts end there. A few include a short ending, and more include a longer conclusion. Let’s look at that.

Mary Magdalene told the disciples, but they didn’t believe her. Jesus appeared to two followers walking in the country. They quickly returned to tell the others, but no one believed them. Later Jesus appeared to the 11 as they were eating, and rebuked them for their disbelief. He personally told them they should believe what they have seen with their own eyes! He instructed them to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” This is similar to the Great Commission at the end of Matthew, where it says to make disciples of all nations, and baptize the new believers.

Uncompromising faith is commanded for us all. Jesus told believers to both have unshakable faith and to teach others about salvation through Jesus. Share the Good News! Jesus promises that the faithful will cast out demons in his name, lay hands on the sick to heal them, and experience an increased layer of protection.

Therefore the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. We should all join them!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship