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[0:00] I would take your Bibles or devices and turn to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 16, if you're visiting with us.

[0:12] If you go to that black Bible in the chair in front of you and go towards the back and find page 42, page 42, Mark 16.

[0:24] We're going to go through the first eight verses this morning, just for us to think and ponder the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[0:37] Mark 16, verses 1 through 8, again page 42 in that black Bible in the chair in front of you. I'll read the passage and then we'll begin our study.

[0:54] And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint Jesus.

[1:06] And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb.

[1:19] And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe, and they were amazed.

[1:34] And they said to them, he said to them, do not be amazed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him.

[1:48] But go, tell his disciples and Peter, he is going before you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he said to you. And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them.

[2:04] And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Sedona is going to host the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

[2:17] Wednesday, March 30th, said Verde Independent, marks the start of the 5th annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration in the Verde Valley, hosted by Sedona.

[2:28] Any Vietnam vets we have here? Raise your hand. Any Vietnam vets? No Vietnam vets. Oh, Miller, Vietnam vet. One Vietnam vet. Another one. Oh, an arts Vietnam vet.

[2:40] So it's going to be Memorial to Vietnam Veterans. In honor of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the event includes a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., also known as the Wall.

[2:58] So it will be in the city of Sedona for public viewing from March 31st to April 3rd at Posse Grounds Park. I believe it was, I'm not sure if I was going to ask my wife because she remembers this stuff better than I do, because I have amnesia, when the wall was in Cottonwood about a couple years ago or something like that.

[3:18] Wasn't it? I found the name of my father-in-law's cousin, Willard Payne. He died in Vietnam.

[3:30] I believe he stepped on a landmine. And my father-in-law was really close to his cousin. They were really close in age, like I think a year or two apart as cousins.

[3:41] He was really close to him. As humans, we are people who do things to remember. Certain days.

[3:54] If you have a birthday, you remember that. Weeks. We use objects to remind us, like the wall. It reminds us of something. Right? Why do we do that?

[4:09] Unless we forget the past. It's so easy for us to forget the past. So that's why we do these things to help us remember. Because we forget so easily.

[4:20] One of the most important days we as followers of Christ Jesus must remember. Is the resurrection of our Lord.

[4:34] Today helps us ponder once again. The truth of Jesus' physical resurrection. Now it's the reason Christians for decades, centuries, why they come together every Sunday.

[4:54] But to honor his resurrection specifically today is a special day. As Dr. Mohler said, it is, quote, The festival which draws all Christians face to face with the empty tomb, the truth of the resurrected Lord.

[5:11] That's why I titled the message today, Jesus' resurrection, our hope, our joy, and our promise. That's what it is.

[5:23] The resurrection of Jesus is our hope. The resurrection of Jesus is our joy. But it's also promise. And I'll unpack that as we come more into our message.

[5:35] For what is the seal and confirmation of the cross upon which our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, died, but his physical resurrection?

[5:50] What is the very event that seals our justification but his resurrection? What confirms his atonement? Redemption.

[6:02] Reconciliation with God. And salvation. But his resurrection. I mean, if this would not have happened, then there's no point in being here.

[6:14] As Paul said, what we read today in 1 Corinthians 15, we should be pitied. People should say, You people are pathetic. You're nuts.

[6:25] You're crazy. This is so vitally important. This specific day. Because realize, realize, it is this event, is what separates us from every other religion in the world.

[6:42] Every religion. That main teacher, guru, whoever you have, is still dead. God. We are the only ones who have a Savior, where there is no one in the grave.

[6:59] The tomb is empty. This is what distinguishes truth from lies. Reality from idealism.

[7:12] Authenticity from falsity. fact from fiction. Christ Jesus. Him crucified and risen.

[7:24] It's our only hope as Christians. It's the only thing that gives us joy in the sufferings, and the pains, and the trials. It's the only thing that gives us hope, that the promise will be fulfilled, of our own resurrection.

[7:40] The promise that one day, Jesus will return, and make all these wrongs, rights. Not the next president of the United States. Specifically, it's the day we praise his name.

[7:54] This particular day. And yet, as I say this, right now, right now, 11.07, there are churches, dare I mention one, preaching, a resurrection-less, Christianity.

[8:16] A Christianity that does not emphasize, the physical resurrection of Jesus. It substitutes, the truth of the gospel, for a lie.

[8:29] I mean, how can this be? Is this really happening? Yes, it is. Because, they think that it merely was some, spiritual rising of Jesus, in the hearts of the disciples.

[8:42] It was their imagination. Even some saying, you don't need to believe in the resurrection to be a Christian. Friends, that's ludicrous.

[8:55] It's absolutely insane. how can you be a Christian, how can you be a Christian, which means follower of Christ, and yet not believe that that Christ, had physically resurrected from the dead?

[9:09] no, no, no, no, no, it's the literal, physical, raising of Jesus' original body from the dead.

[9:23] It was totally changed, same body, but changed, and he was seen by hundreds, hundreds of people. So, at one time, says Paul, in what we read today, so to be a Christian, you must believe this.

[9:45] So, if you're here, and you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, may I graciously say to you, if you want to become a follower of Jesus, to become a Christian, it is pertinent, it is foundational, it is what makes you become a Christian, is you believing, not just in the fact that Jesus died, everybody believes Jesus died.

[10:11] But the question is, will you believe in him, physically resurrecting from the dead? And you know, you don't need to defend this fact.

[10:23] How do you defend, two plus two equals four? You don't defend that. Look, I'm telling you, two plus two equals four. How do you defend that? It's just, it just is, right?

[10:36] You don't defend, something that is. So, you don't defend, the fact that Jesus died, or, that Jesus resurrected, you don't defend his resurrection.

[10:48] It's a fact. Actually, anyone who denies, the resurrection of Jesus, they have to defend that. Because of the evidence, that's there, that proves, the resurrection of Jesus, which first is most pertinent, which we will see in just a few moments, the empty tomb.

[11:11] And so, because of this, real, physical, rising of Jesus from the dead, we have a mandate, a command, an obligation, to speak this good news, to proclaim it.

[11:29] Because of the resurrection, Jesus is who he said he is. Jesus was who he said he was, he is who he said he is. The resurrection proves that.

[11:40] John Broadus, who helped found, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he said this, quote, the resurrection was the signed, manual of the deity.

[11:53] It was the seal of the sovereign, of the universe, affixed to his claim. It declared him to be, all that he ever, professed to be, and so it establishes, the truth, of all his teachings, and the truth, of the whole Christian society.

[12:10] The great fact, that Jesus Christ, rose from the dead, is the central fact, of the evidence, of Christianity, end quote. And people will say to you, yes, Jesus, I love Jesus, love others, right?

[12:28] As you already, as you love yourself, I love that. But you know, Jesus resurrected from the dead, no, no, no, no, that's just a myth. We don't take what we want.

[12:40] We don't take what we like. We worship God on his terms. We believe Jesus on his terms. So not only is, is the resurrection our hope in this life, in the midst of the trials, and sufferings of this life, not only is it our joy, and our, just our satisfaction, in the midst of the things of this life, but also, not only do we look backwards, to his resurrection, but we look forward, to fulfilling, the other promises, that he will return, to bring, final victory over sin, and over death, and that he would also, resurrect us, change our bodies, this body, to be one, just like his own.

[13:29] Trials, sufferings, as Paul said, they're not worthy, to be compared, to the glory, that will be revealed, later on.

[13:43] So there's, there's hope, there's joy, and there's the promise. So there's our, your introduction. So we're going to come into, Mark's account now, of the resurrection.

[13:57] And as we come to, just some quick points, on Mark's writing. He was not an author, he gave a lot of details.

[14:08] If you notice, it's fast paced, boom, boom, boom, boom, just in the first eight verses. He doesn't give a lot of details. And it's, correct in thinking, that, it was, an eyewitness account, riding through the eyes of Peter.

[14:25] Peter, corresponding with Mark, most likely, when Peter was in prison, and he spoke with Mark, who wrote this down for him. And, and, by the way, why is this important?

[14:40] We, in this church, at least while, I'm here, and hopefully, even when I'm dead and gone, but we, in this church, we believe, that the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, they give the accurate, historical account, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[15:01] So, we deny, the veracity, or the authority, of any other gospel, which you might, you'll, Google on the internet, other gospels, other gospels, Peter, Thomas, Judas, Mary, etc., etc.

[15:21] We do not take those, as authentic, or authoritative, because, they are not recognized, as authoritative. Now, the four gospels, mind you, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, they do not give, all the info, about what the Lord Jesus Christ did, but they certainly give, a true, perfectly accurate account, of his life, his ministry, his death, and physical resurrection, from the dead.

[15:46] So, having said that, look at verse one. When the sabbath, was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come, and anoint him, anoint Jesus' body.

[16:02] This is three of the women, from verse 40, of chapter 15, two from verse 47. The other three gospels, Matthew, Luke, John, told us there were, other women there too, so there was a group of ladies, who saw the resurrection, of Jesus.

[16:20] They were the first ones, to get the news. Mary was the first one, to see the resurrected Lord. So, can I just stop here, and say something?

[16:32] Ladies, what a privilege for you. It was you, who were, I know it's not you personally, but you in terms of, gender. It was you, who were the first ones, to see the resurrected, Lord Jesus.

[16:45] This flies, in the face, of our culture, that says, Christianity, is a male chauvinistic, pig religion. It flies, in the face of that, because it shows, God's love, for those considered, as outcasts, within a society.

[17:00] In the first century, you women, were considered, as outcasts. Pharisees, would say, Lord God, thank you, that you did not, make me a tax collector, Gentile, or a woman.

[17:11] That's what David says, with you pray. So, in God's providence, women, were given, precedence. What a privilege, for you ladies.

[17:23] Oh, and by the way, they did not, end up at the wrong tomb, which is actually, a male chauvinistic thing, for people, skeptics to say, about women, for actually, shooting themselves, in the foot, when they're saying that.

[17:38] They're saying, oh, those women, they're just stupid, they went to the wrong tomb, and this young guy said, oh, that's where they laid him, it's over at that tomb. That's ridiculous. Okay, just, let's just make sure, we understand, this part here.

[17:53] They didn't go to the wrong tomb, because that would mean, that the church was founded upon, a deliberate deception, and lie. The truth, of Jesus' resurrection, is the most foundational doctrine, in all of Christianity.

[18:08] Upon this truth, we stand or fall. You must believe it, to be saved. Notice, it says, they bought, the spices, that they might come, and anoint Jesus, body, they most likely, did this Saturday evening.

[18:26] On the Sabbath, shops closed. But when evening came, sunrise, excuse me, sunset, the shops might have been open, at that time. So they went to the shops, bought sweet, smelling oils.

[18:40] Now, the anointing of the body, it wasn't necessarily, a common practice, among the Jews. These were expressions, of love, and devotion, to their master.

[18:53] And they couldn't do it, any sooner, because of the Sabbath, because Jesus died, he died there on Friday, so he was dead Friday, they would consider that, as Friday, that would be the first day, the second day, and then the third day, Sunday, he was still dead, then he rose.

[19:06] So for three days. But so they couldn't, do anything Friday, Saturday, they couldn't, not a thing. So Saturday evening came, and it was dark, they probably bought spices, went home, so that's why they came, early Sunday morning, which shows, how they viewed Jesus' death.

[19:26] To them it was real, it was final. They didn't expect, the resurrection. If they did, why would they go through, the trouble of buying, these spices?

[19:40] That's ridiculous. They did not expect it. Notice verse two, and very early, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, when the sun had risen, and they were saying, to one another, who will roll away, the stone for us, from the entrance of the tomb?

[19:56] So they left, at a time before sunrise, arriving at the tomb, maybe just after sunrise, close to that. And it suddenly dawned, on them, I mean, when you're upset, when you're hurting, you're just not thinking straight, and it dawned on them, who's going to roll, lay the stone for us?

[20:17] Maybe they concluded, some workmen were around, and someone might say, well what about the guards, and the seal, that was on the tomb, they probably didn't know, about that, they were unaware, of the guards, and the seal, that Matthew talks about, in his gospel.

[20:32] So again, another proof, that they had no idea, they weren't expecting, Jesus to resurrect, and another proof, that Mark was just fast paced, he's not giving us, all the details. Notice verse 4, and looking up, they saw that the stone, had been rolled away, although it was, extremely large.

[20:51] They looked up, so maybe their heads, were down, maybe there was an elevation, to the tomb, but maybe, most likely, their heads are down, they're downcast, they lift up their eyes, and to their surprise, the stone, was already rolled away.

[21:05] These stones, were not small, not just in terms, of its size, but also, its weight. They were very heavy stones, that they put over these, that way, it would keep, grave robbers, from coming, and taking things, so they couldn't, do it alone.

[21:24] Oh, and keep in mind, the stone, was not rolled away, so Jesus could get out, help, help, let me out, let me out, come on. You know, that just doesn't, yeah.

[21:39] It was rolled away, to let people come in, and see that he had risen. Verse 5, and entering the tomb, they saw a young man, sitting at the right, wearing a white robe, and they were amazed.

[21:52] They saw this young man, wearing this, normal youths, would not wear that, in this time. They wore black, everybody knew that, I mean, come on. Okay, nobody got that, that was supposed to be funny.

[22:04] All the youth are like, yeah, that's cool. These white robes, were worn by angels. It shocked them.

[22:15] They were astonished. Notice, verse 6, he said to them, don't be amazed, don't be shocked, don't be astonished. You're looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, notice how he specifies, not just Jesus, but Jesus specifically, the Nazarene.

[22:32] Stop being amazed, I know you're looking for Jesus, Nazarene, who was crucified. Notice, he gives us even more specification. He has risen. He is not here.

[22:44] Behold, the place where they laid him. The first one to announce, Jesus' resurrection, was an angel. The next place, the details of Jesus' resurrection, was not described.

[22:54] No human eye, saw his resurrection. He directed them, to the niche, in the rock, where the body, would have been.

[23:08] Again, Mark's given us, a quick, quick, quick, storyline. We find out, other places, and John, that, Peter and John, they had run to the tomb, after the women told them, and there was, they saw the linen cloth there, and then the headpiece separate.

[23:24] The empty tomb is, and will continue to be, the greatest sign, that Christianity, is the absolute, factual truth. Verse 7, But go, tell his disciples.

[23:43] They were the first recipients, to receive this, great news from the women. The first ones, to proclaim it to, Jesus' disciples, were the women. Tell his disciples, notice, and Peter.

[23:58] After denying Jesus, Peter most likely felt, unwanted, and rejected. Here, the angel, wanted the women, to give special assurance, to all the disciples, but especially, to Peter.

[24:13] And they are fully embraced, by their master, and savior. He is going, before you, into Galilee. There, you will see him, just as he said to you.

[24:26] Jesus, through the angel, gave Peter, the disciples, but specifically, Peter, gave special assurance, to Peter, that he was not, cast off.

[24:39] There you see, God's grace. fallen Peter, was included, as a word of hope, to him, but not just to him, but to all, who are in need, of grace, and mercy today.

[24:57] See, Jesus eagerly, embraces sinners. His arms, are wide open, to those, who have rejected him, but they want, to humble themselves, before him, to believe.

[25:10] Are you here, today, and you need, to respond, to the gospel? Have you been, just messing around? I need to get, real with God. This is the time, for you to do that.

[25:21] This is the time, for you to hear, the gospel. God should judge us. He has every right, to judge you, and to judge me. And yet, he sent, his eternal son, Jesus, who lives, perfectly, was crucified, for sinners, and physically, arose from the dead.

[25:37] And the call, is for you, to repent, and trust Jesus, alone. Turn away, from your sin, and put your trust, in Jesus. Your hope, your joy, your confidence, in Jesus Christ.

[25:50] His arms, are wide open, to you sinner. His arms, are wide open, to me. It's open, to any sinner. He will go, before you, into Galilee, says the angel.

[26:04] He said, this to his disciples, in chapter 14, verse 28. And not to say, he didn't see them, or appear in Jerusalem, that's not the point. It's to convince them, of the reality, of his resurrection.

[26:15] Here is a promise, of his personal, resurrection appearance, to them. To meet with his disciples, in Galilee. Notice, what happens, in verse 8.

[26:28] And they went out, and fled from the tomb. For trembling, and astonished, and gripped them. What's their, immediate reaction? Run!

[26:41] Ah! This would be, shocking news to them. The nuance, of the words. There's trembling. Astonishment. Quivering, with fear.

[26:53] Terror, almost. They were, beside themselves. That's what, these words mean. And they said, nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Which once again, points to the authenticity, of the resurrection.

[27:07] It was, unexpected. It threw them off. These amazing events, stupefied them. They were left, with confusion.

[27:18] With shocked emotions. Does this mean, that they did not, share the news, with the disciples? No. It means, that they did not, dare break, this news to anyone, they saw on the way back.

[27:35] We find out, from the other gospel, that they did tell, the eleven about, their experience. John and Peter, they ran to the tomb, and all these things happen. And then you have, verses 9 through 20, which I'll just, briefly mention.

[27:47] And Mark, Mark just kind of, comes to an, just abrupt halt. It stops. And you're kind of, left with, um, um, okay, so what happens?

[28:00] Verses 9 through 20, were added later. They weren't, in the original gospel. I take the view, defined by Dr. Farnell, at Master's Seminary, and others too, that Peter was most likely, executed, before Mark, could finish his gospel.

[28:18] Because remember, he's writing, from Peter's perspective, Mark's writing, and most likely, this time, Peter was executed. So Mark kind of goes, I guess I'm done. Okay, I don't know what else, to put in here. So here you have, fast paced, very little details.

[28:34] Jesus resurrected, the angels appeared, the women, telling them the good news, they run in fear. Here once again, we see, the unexpected, news, that Jesus resurrected, from the dead.

[28:50] It was just a given, for the angel, and it should be a given, for us. What a great message, of hope for sinners. You can be forgiven.

[29:03] You can find, find mercy and grace. Through the resurrection, of Jesus, you can be reconciled, to God. Right now, he's your enemy.

[29:13] Right now, you are his enemy, without Jesus Christ. But you can be, reconciled to God. You can have hope, in the true promise, of your own resurrection.

[29:25] Whereby you will, eternally live, with the one, who created you, and loved you. How great, the Father's love for us. What an awesome God.

[29:38] It's not to make much of us. Because guess what? You're not worthy, to be died for. And neither am I. But it's not to show us, how much worthy, or how worthy we are.

[29:51] It's to show, how worthy, and how great God is. He's a gracious God. He's slow to anger, and abounding, steadfast love to us. Think about this Christian.

[30:05] Think about this. Our hope, is in the Lord, who gave himself for you. Your joy, is in the Lord, who resurrected from the dead. Your promise, is in the Lord, who will return, to right all the wrongs, and complete your salvation.

[30:23] I mean, do you realize, he's our hope, he's our joy, our promise. His resurrection, is just a win-win-win, situation for us. I mean, you win in your tribulations, and trials, because you realize, in these physical sufferings, and stuff, it's going to end.

[30:42] You win, in your struggle, your struggles, and your struggling, against sin, in your life, and you're just, oh, just grips with it, and you hate it. That will come to an end.

[30:53] This will come to an end. The fact, when you're dealing, with such depression, and such despair, and turmoil, and yet, you have such joy, to look forward to.

[31:07] It's nothing, but a win-win-win, situation for us. The resurrection of Jesus, is our hope, our joy, and our promise. What an encouragement. Be encouraged today, with the truth, of the resurrection, the physical resurrection, of Jesus.

[31:23] Father, thank you. You're so compassionate. You're so merciful, to sinners.

[31:41] We are dumbfounded, that you just, did not, destroy us all, and start all over. We are amazed, that you would, that you would, take time, for sinners.

[32:04] You would, seek after, sinners. You would, run after, sinners. And save them, through the cross. Where, as we sang today, love and mercy, meet.

[32:20] really love, and justice. Because, you poured out, your justice, upon your son, so that we can, have mercy. So we can, have love.

[32:36] And then, you showed it, how much, you were pleased, with that, by bringing, Jesus back, from the dead. thank you.

[32:52] May the resurrection, of Jesus, be the thing, the truth, that we, the fact that we, not just remember today, but, tomorrow, next week, next month, three months from now, the election time, in November.

[33:11] we will say, whoever you put in place, glory be to Jesus Christ. Because, we look forward, to a day, to a monarchy, where you, Jesus, will reign as king, and you will reign, perfectly.

[33:35] And, and the amazing part, Father, the amazing part, we will reign, with him. The whole world, belongs to us.

[33:49] We are just, dumbfounded. A bunch of hypocrites, in this room, and we're gonna, rule the universe. I, it's just, just, unbelievable.

[34:04] Give us hope. Give us joy. Give us the assurance, of your promise. At this time, if you would, take a few moments, a few moments of silence, where you can ponder, and you can think, about what we have seen, here in Mark's gospel, and, the truth, that we unpacked, about Jesus' resurrection.

[34:35] And, after a few moments, of silence, we'll continue our time, to worship the Lord, and give him. Sing a couple more songs, and then we'll, have our closing prayer.

[34:53]  Sit, ponder, think, what we've seen, in God's word. são Copper subir, esoedad, ee, irangente, eee, eee, ee, sire, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, i Jen, ee, eeee,