Mark 16,1-8. The Resurrection of the Lord

Mark 16,1-8          2422 

The Resurrection of the Lord 35

Anicet, Bishop of Rome, Martyr 173

17. April 2022

1. ℣ Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Alleluia:  

℟ Death has no more dominion over Him. Alleluia. (Romans 6,9). 

℣ I know that my Redeemer lives. Alleluia.

℟ Who shall at the last day wake me from the earth. Alleluia. (Job 19,25) 

O Almighty God, who by the death of Your Son has brought to naught sin and sin and by His resurrection has brought against innocence and everlasting life so that, delivered from the Devil’s power, we may live in Your kingdom: Grant us that we may believe this with all our hearts and, steadfast in this faith, praise and thank You always.  Amen. (Luther 134). 

2. »When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another: „Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?“ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back – it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them: „Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they placed Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.“ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.« 

3. When Jesus had been crucified on Friday, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome were there at His feet. These 3 women, and many others, followed Him when He began His ministry in Galilee and ministered to Him. They were with Him at the beginning and they remained faithfully at His side unto His very end, though painful and heart-wrenching it was. Jesus did not die alone, for these 3 women did not forsake Him in His hour of utmost need. 

4. They on the 3. day, they hasten to His tom. They had buried Him in haste late Friday afternoon. There was not enough time to give Him a proper burial. But now the Sabbath is over, and on early Sunday morning they go to pay their final respects to a man who loved them, respected them and had taught them so much from the Scriptures. He had been through friend, teacher and Messiah.  

5. They arrive at Jesus’ tomb to find the stone rolled away. That was unexpected. Who has gotten here before them?the only reason to open the tomb would be to go inside. So they go inside and find not the body of Jesus but a young man dressed in a white robe seated on the right side of where they had laid Jesus to rest. Matthew, Mark and John tell us this person is an angel.  

6. Mark’s description of this angel as a young man is consistent with His description of Jesus through his Gospel. Mark describes Jesus as completely ordinary and natural (Voelz 1208). It is clear to Mark that Jesus indeed is the Son of G, yet Mark goes to get length to say Jesus presented Himself as very human, in every way a man (Voelz 1208). So this young man is clearly an angel, as his white robe signifies to the women, but other than that He appears as an ordinary and natural man, just like Jesus appeared (Voelz 1208). 

7. Even the angel’s message to the women is ordinary and natural. »Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they placed Him.« It is simply as Jesus told you it would be. It should be no surprise or shock that He is not here. He did tell you He would die and then rise again.  

8. Jesus’ disciples had heard this time and agin, but they did not comprehend it. Now the reality of it is seen by these women and they are alarmed and left afraid. This is how Mark ends his Gospel. What does this mean? 

9. Throughout his Gospel, Mark notes that fear is a sure sign of Divine activity (Voelz 1211). This is particularly seen in Mark 4,41 where Jesus stills the storm. The disciples became greatly afraid and began to ask each other: Who, then, is this, that both wind and wave obey Him? Jesus had saved them by exercising His Divine authority, and the disciples were afraid. In Mark 16, Jesus has risen and His tomb is empty. He has exercised His Divine authority and the women are afraid. The women know they stand in the presence of Jesus’ saving activity, but this salvation is much greater than stilling the storm. 

10. What Mark tells us is that had we been there we would have likewise done the same as the women (Voelz 1210). We have what they had — the Word — the promise of Jesus: just as He told you (Voelz 1210). And just as it was for them, for us this promise is all we need (Voelz 1210). 

11. The women saw the empty tomb and believe the words of the angel — Jesus  is risen. Like the women, we have heard their testimony of the risen Jesus and we believe their words. If we believe Jesus’ words, then we will see Him (Voelz 1210) for He is risen indeed. Hallelujah! 

12. Christ indeed from death is risen,

Our new life obtaining. 

Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia. (Christians, to the Paschal Victim lsb 460,3 Wipo of Burgundy d. c. 1050)

This is most certainly true. 

13. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7).  Amen. 

10. Let us pray. O Almighty and Eternal God, Merciful Father, You gave Your Son for our sins, and raised Him up again for our righteousness. Through Him You have overcome death and have opened for us the way to eternal life. Through Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may rely on this in true faith, that our bodies also will arise with Christ to eternal life, an that by remembering this comfort we may endure all kinds of sorrow in this life with patience through the power of the resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen. (Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung undAgenda 282.2 from Martin Luther, Die Gebete Luthers, #13; Stratman 41-42). 

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

 

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

ELKB. Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern. www.bayern-evangelisch.de/www/index.php. Copyright © 2019 Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern. 

VELKD. Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands. www.velkd.de. Copyright © 2020 Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. 

Lutheran Service Book. Copyright © 2006. Concordia Publishing House. 

Stratman, Paul C. Prayers for the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage. Copyright © 2017. 

Voelz, James W. Mark 8:27-16:20. Copyright © 2019.