He Is Risen!

 

He Is Risen! (Mark 16:1-8)

“He is not here – he has been raised!” (Mark 16:6)

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I’m not sure what to believe. It is so incredible, it can’t be real. And yet…

At sunrise today Mary Magdalene, Mary (James’ mother), and Salome went to the tomb to put the burial spices and oils on Jesus’ body. (They didn’t have time to properly anoint Jesus’s body before the Sabbath arrived.) But when they got to the tomb, the giant stone that had been in front of the entrance was rolled away. They went into the tomb and saw a man in white clothes. They were startled, even afraid.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth. He is not here – he has been raised!” Then he pointed to the place where Jesus’ body had been laid. Sure enough, Jesus wasn’t there.

Then the man in white clothing told the women to tell us that Jesus will meet us – and Peter – in Galilee, where we will see him. The women quickly ran out of the tomb, stunned and afraid. They didn’t say a word about what they had just seen and heard until they reached us.

Like I said before, I don’t know what to think. It is so incredible, it can’t be real. And yet… And yet, now that I think about it, isn’t this unfolding exactly like Jesus said it would happen? Isn’t this exactly what Jesus told us in the past few months? Three times, Jesus said the Son of Man would be turned over to the authorities. Three times, Jesus said the authorities would kill him. And sure enough, it happened just like Jesus said it would happen. He was betrayed, and he was killed.

But, wait! Didn’t Jesus also say that he would be raised from the dead after three days? Yes, he did say that! Three times! If he was betrayed and killed just like he said would happen, could it be that he has also been raised from the dead, just like he said would happen?

The man in white clothing told the women that Jesus was going ahead to Galilee and would meet us there, just as Jesus had told us. Now I remember that dark night in the upper room. Jesus did say, “After I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 

I still don’t know what to think about all this. I’m not sure what it all means. But I’m beginning to believe that it’s true – that Jesus really has risen from the dead. He is risen!

I’m beginning to believe that there must be some reason that Jesus had to die the way he did. 

I’m beginning to believe that by rising from the dead, Jesus’ kingdom hasn’t been defeated and overthrown, after all.

I’m beginning to believe that everything Jesus said and did and told us to do – it all still stands.

I’m beginning to believe that, because he is willing to meet us in Galilee, maybe that means he is going to give us another chance; maybe he will forgive us – and Peter – for abandoning him and denying him.

I’m beginning to believe that my walk with Jesus isn’t over, after all. Maybe it’s really just starting.

He is risen! I better get walking to Galilee; I think I have a meeting with Jesus. Because he is risen!