Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain
Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome if
you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not
because we're trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community,
and as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced there's no one so good. They don't
need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back
week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. We're continuing and actually ending
our series in the Gospel of Mark, and you'll remember that the Gospels tell the story of
Jesus and His life and His death and His resurrection, and I reminded you last week that our journey in
Mark was not meant to be merely an intellectual exercise. It would be a great tragedy, as I said,
for us to move on to the book of Judges next month and to merely think of Mark as just a book that we
looked at at some point, because that's not Mark's intention. That's not his goal in writing this
Gospel. His goal is that we would see Jesus and that we would be changed, and I've also been telling
you over and over again that as the Gospel progresses, you move from three groups of people
to two groups of people. First, you have three groups, those who are for Jesus, those who are
against Him, and those who are in the middle. And as we come to the very end, the middle group
disappears. There are those who are for Jesus and those who are against Him. And so Mark really gives us
a double ending here, two different pictures of two people responding well to Jesus. Last week,
we looked at Joseph of Arimathea, and you will remember that Joseph's response was this. He was
willing to lose his kingdom for the sake of God's kingdom. Joseph was willing to lose his kingdom for
God's kingdom. And we're going to return again to this same question, the question we started with at
the very beginning of the Gospel. Who is Jesus, and how do we respond to Him? We're going to have one
final model as we come to the end. Now, you may be wondering at this point, if you've looked in your
Bible, what do you mean that we've come to the end? I only see verses 1 through 8, and my Bible has an
additional section of verses 8 through 20. Why are we not going to talk about that? Why are we suddenly
ending the Gospel now? You may see, if you have an ESV, it has this note, some of the earliest
manuscripts do not include 16 verses 9 through 20. In fact, most scholars do not consider verses 9
through 20 to be original. In other words, most scholars are convinced Mark did not write verses
9 through 20. And so we're not going to cover it here in worship, because our goal is we're here in
worship together, as I say every week, is that we're looking at God's Word. And so I don't want to say,
hey, this is God's Word, when it's unclear to us, it's doubtful that it is. Now, you may be thinking
at this point, wow, I can't trust the Bible. And that's the last thing that I want you to be thinking,
because what I actually want you to see here is how seriously we take the Scriptures. So seriously
that your Bible has a note in it, making sure you know there are certain sections that don't appear in
the earliest manuscripts. Okay, so actually I want you to increase your trust in it. Oh, when there's
something going on with the original manuscripts, my Bible's going to tell me, so I can have confidence
in what it is that I'm reading. Now, that raises another question for us, which relates to our
passage this morning. Why would someone add on an extra ending to the Gospel of Mark? And one
explanation is this, and I think this is probably one of, if not the most likely answer. Mark ends his
Gospel in a very strange way. Look at the last two words of verse 8. Really, the last four words,
for they were afraid. Why in the world would Mark, after we have taken this journey with Jesus,
right after we have seen his death and resurrection, decide to end his story with a group of women being
afraid? Why would he end the story that way after he's told us things that we should be looking
forward to? Jesus is moving forward to Galilee, right? Why isn't it that we're going to hear that
story? He tells these women they're meant to go forward and be witnesses and share these things with
the followers of Jesus. Why don't we get to hear about that? It's those questions, I believe, that
cause certain people later to write an ending because they were unsatisfied with the way that Mark
left things. It seems abrupt and strange. And I'm going to suggest to you this morning
that if we understand fear rightly, this ending is incredibly fitting to Mark. It's incredibly
fitting to Mark, and it's actually fitting to the witness of the rest of the Scriptures. It makes sense,
as I'll explain to you in a minute, that Mark would end his gospel in exactly this way. Once again,
and for the last time, he's giving us a picture. How should we respond to Jesus? And so as with that,
I'm going to invite you to turn with me to Mark chapter 16. You can turn in your Bible. You can turn
on your phone. You can turn in your worship guide. No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's
word. And God says in Proverbs chapter 30 verse 5, we're told every word of God proves true. He is a
shield to those who take refuge in him. And so that's why we're going to start now reading Mark
chapter 16 at verse 1. When the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome
bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. 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. Verse 5, 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 is crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Verse 7,
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. I invite you to pray with me as we
come to this portion of God's word. Our Father in heaven, we praise you and thank you again that you
have not left us to stumble around trying to figure out life on our own, but instead you have given us
your word, given us your instructions about how to walk in this world. You've given us reminders about
your glory and your grace. And most of all, you've given us a vision of Jesus Christ. We ask that one
more time you would show us Jesus, that we would see his beauty and his glory, and it would lead us
to worship him, to love him, to follow him, to obey him. We ask all these things in the mighty name of
Jesus Christ. Amen. I want you to think back just one week to how we ended our story last week.
The very last verse in chapter 15, we were told, verse 47, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of
Joseph saw where he was laid. Now that was not a random remark. It was meant for us to know they
are doing their homework. This plan that they're about to execute has been in the works ever since
Jesus has been put in the tomb. They have made a note of where Jesus' body is so they can do this
very thing that we see in this passage, so that they can go and anoint his body with spices and oil.
Now, they've been delayed in this task because they can't do that on the Jewish Holy Day. They're not
able to do it on the Sabbath, and that's why we're told in verse 1, when the Sabbath was passed. In other
words, they have been waiting. They've been waiting until the moment when they can finally go and honor
Jesus' body. They're buying spices then. This is again, verse 1, Saturday evening. This would be after
the Sabbath is over because it would have gone from Friday evening sunset to Saturday evening at sundown
so that they can be ready, verse 2, to go as soon as possible to care for Jesus. So they've done their
homework. They've noted the location of the tomb. They have their assignment and their mission. They
want to honor Jesus' body, and they get after it as quickly as they can. You can sort of sense their
impatience here. They've been honoring the Holy Day, and they're trying to get there as fast as possible.
That's why we're told in verse 2, it is very early on the first day of the week that they went to the
tomb. In fact, they've gone so early that they have not done all the appropriate planning that they
should have. So it seems that while they're running to the tomb, verse 3, it suddenly occurs to them,
oh wait, we didn't make a plan to deal with the stone that's rolled in front. And these stones would
have been incredibly large, and so these three women would not have been capable of doing it on
their own. And so we can sense their anxiety and their fear as they're approaching for this important
task to take care of Jesus' body. They realize they haven't quite done everything because they know
that they're not able to roll the stone away by themselves. And so that's why we see in verse 3,
who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? Now, this also reminds us
that when this angel in verse 7, and we'll talk about why it's an angel, calls them out, because he
does call them out, he says, this is what he told you. Go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going
before you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you. In other words, these women have not
put the pieces together. And not just them, none of Jesus' followers have put the pieces together.
Jesus has told them over and over in the Gospels, I'm going to die, and then after three days, I'm going
to rise again. And so really, it should be the expectation, as these women are going to the tomb,
their expectation should be that Jesus has risen. But of course, just like everyone else, this has
gone over their heads. I say all this to understand, as you understand the story, their surprise when
they finally arrive at the tomb. Verse 4, we can imagine their relief. Looking up, they saw that the
stone had been rolled back. And in case we'd forgotten, we're reminded that it's very large, so
they're not able to do it on their own. That, of course, might cause them to be anxious and worry about
what had happened to Jesus' body. But things get even worse after that. Verse 5,
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe,
and they were alarmed. Now, we can imagine their alarm is for a variety of reasons. One,
they're not expecting to find someone else in this tomb so early in the morning, right after the
Sabbath day has passed. But there's another reason that they would find this man alarming. It's
understated here. We are told simply that he is dressed in a white robe. The other Gospels help
us understand this is more than just a white robe. Matthew chapter 28 says his appearance was like
lightning and his clothing white as snow. Luke, in chapter 24, tells us he had dazzling apparel.
I think that's going to be my goal from now on. I want people to say, look at him. He's got dazzling
apparel. But we can understand their shock, right? We can understand why it is they are alarmed.
They're alarmed because they're probably wondering, okay, what has happened to Jesus' body? There's a
potential that his body has been stolen and taken away just as they are coming to anoint him.
They're terrified because here is someone who is clearly more than human. He's more than human
because of his appearance. And he's also more than human because of his knowledge. What is this
man able to do? And it's more than a man. Matthew's Gospel confirms for us this is, in fact, an angel.
So really, we could say he just looks like a man. Matthew also confirms for us, by the way,
that it's the angel who moved the stone away. So he's done them a huge favor here.
But we know he's more than human, not just because of his appearance, but because of his knowledge.
Verse 7 and verse 6. He's able to tell them what no human would know at this point.
Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here.
Without that explanation, we would simply assume that Jesus' body had been stolen.
It's not enough for there to be an empty tomb.
There has to be an empty tomb because Jesus has risen from the dead.
That, then, is why the angel tells them, verse 6, don't be alarmed.
Even though I'm a scary angel, the body wasn't stolen.
Don't be alarmed.
Even though I have dazzling apparel,
Jesus has risen from the dead.
And, by the way, Jesus told you that over and over and over.
Things have happened just as he said.
Now, there's plenty of things that we could say about Jesus' resurrection.
And I'm not going to say those things this morning
because I don't believe that is actually the focus of this particular passage.
Yes, we see Jesus' resurrection,
and Mark's focus, what he spends time on,
is telling us about the response to the resurrection.
What Mark wants us to see is what these women do with it.
And so we're going to focus on that this morning.
Before we do, though, I want to quickly say one thing
that I want you to notice in verse 7.
Go tell his disciples and Peter.
Now, why should they need to go to tell the disciples and Peter?
That doesn't make sense
because Peter is actually one of the disciples.
It would be like I said,
okay, go talk to all the new deacons we just installed and Greg.
That doesn't make sense.
Greg is one of the new deacons.
You don't need to add him onto the list.
Except Peter is the one who denied Christ.
In fact, some people think he said,
tell the disciples and Peter,
it's possible that Peter was so ashamed by what he had done
that that would be a separate trip.
In other words, it's possible that Peter
has actually isolated himself away from the other disciples.
And so as Jesus tells these women to go and share the news,
he remembers that he and Peter have not interacted
since they made eye contact after Peter's denial.
And so as we look towards these women's response
to Christ and his resurrection,
I don't want you to miss this moment of grace
that the forefront of Jesus' mind
is Peter's denial
and Jesus' desire to reunite with him.
One question the readers might ask of this passage
is what is it that Jesus is going to do
when he finds his disciples?
The last thing they did was abandon him.
Should they be scared of Jesus coming and talking to them?
Should they be afraid that Jesus is going to come
and rebuke them and correct them for abandoning him?
And the answer here is no.
Jesus is going to go and be restored with his disciples.
He's going to go and be restored with Peter.
Because of Jesus' death and his resurrection,
he is coming to be restored to sinners.
Becoming to be restored to people like you and me.
I don't want to distract us from our focus though,
which is the response of these women.
And it's actually surprising in certain ways.
Verse eight, we are told,
they went out and fled from the tomb
for trembling and astonishment had seized them.
They were literally shaking
after encountering this angel.
Which in some ways makes sense.
This is an overwhelming experience.
And in some ways is very surprising.
They've just received great news.
Jesus has risen from the dead.
And he's risen from the dead
just like he told you over and over again.
And so it's likely that they're remembering finally
the things that Jesus was trying to communicate to them
and they weren't able to hear.
And so why is it that they are physically shaking
and filled with astonishment?
And why is it that we're told
they're not able to say anything
because they're afraid?
Well, in his book,
What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?
by a man named Michael Reeves,
he says,
trembling is actually the common denominator
that we see throughout the story of the Bible
for people who experience the fear of God.
Whether it is a fear of God
from someone who's a sinner,
who's afraid of his punishment,
or someone who's experiencing the fear
that the Proverbs talks about,
the fear of all at God's majesty and love
and his power,
trembling is what those people experience.
And so what Mark is telling us here
is that these women are overwhelmed
by the demonstration of God's power and love.
They are overwhelmed as they understand
what has actually happened.
They're trembling as they see what Jesus has done.
Reeves goes on to clarify,
and this is an important thing for us to understand,
that there are two types of trembling.
The first kind of trembling,
he says,
is the kind of trembling
that happens when a soldier is under heavy fire.
It's the trembling of terror.
And that's the kind of trembling or fear
we would expect from someone
who is not a Christian if they encounter God.
That they would have terror
knowing that they're facing God's judgment
for their sins.
He then goes on to tell us
so there's another type of trembling.
Trembling as a soldier under fire
is not the only way.
The other kind of trembling
is the trembling of overwhelmed adoration
as a bridegroom first seeing his bride.
That when we think about the fear of the Lord,
the fear of the Lord for Christians
is not a fear of God
as if God is going to hurt us somehow.
It is that kind of trembling
as the bridegroom seeing his bride.
It is the trembling that happens
when we see something great
and powerful and overwhelming.
Jeremiah 33 verse 9,
talking about God's people,
says this,
they shall fear and tremble
because of all the good
and all the prosperity
I provide for it.
And so they're not afraid of God
in Jeremiah 33
as if he's going to do something bad to them.
No, they have this fear of God
because he is so good.
In other words,
they are overwhelmed
by God and his goodness.
They're trembling
because God has been so kind to them.
They're trembling
because they realize
how powerful God is.
it's the sort of trembling
that you might experience
as you look out
on the Grand Canyon.
It's the kind of trembling
you might feel
as you see the northern lights.
It's the kind of trembling
that many people felt
back in 2017
when we had a total eclipse.
You guys might remember that.
Nature is only a signpost
to point us to God.
If people tremble
at a solar eclipse,
imagine how much more
they will tremble
before the king of the universe.
And so there's a trembling
that comes from realizing
God's greatness
and our smallness.
There's a trembling
that comes from realizing
our wickedness
and God's forgiveness.
There's a trembling
we experience
when we are overwhelmed
by the reality of our sin
and we're also overwhelmed
by God's mercy
and His goodness
and His love.
And so that helps us understand
what it means
for someone to fear the Lord
because we're told
in 1 John 4, verse 18,
that perfect love
casts out fear.
In other words,
we need an understanding
of the word fear
that goes beyond
just being scared.
When a Christian
experiences the fear of God,
it is not being scared of God.
It is being overwhelmed
by God's holiness,
by His power,
by His authority,
by His love,
by His goodness,
by His mercy.
And it's that fear of God
that moves us
to obedience
and love
and awe.
It's true
of the entire Bible
and it's true
of the Gospel
of Mark.
Reeves also
gives us a list
of people
in the Old Testament
and the New Testament
who trembled
in God's presence.
He tells us,
Abraham, Joshua,
David, Ezekiel,
Daniel, Paul,
and John
all fell
on their faces
in God's presence.
Now,
if I've lost you
a little bit,
this would be the time
for you to come back
in with me.
The point is this.
These women
have trembling
and astonishment
because they have
finally realized
how great God is.
They have trembling
and astonishment
because they are
overwhelmed
by what it means
that Jesus has died
and risen from the dead.
They have trembling
and astonishment
because finally
they realize
who Jesus is.
and so they have
appropriate
a true,
a right fear.
We might say
in a sense
they are falling
on their faces
like Abraham,
Joshua,
David,
Ezekiel,
Daniel,
Paul,
and John.
They have
a true
fear of the Lord,
not a fear
of punishment,
not afraid
of God,
but an understanding
of God's greatness.
And that understanding
hits them
so hard
it knocks the wind
out of them.
Now I only
can remember
a couple times
as a kid
that something
knocked the wind
out of me
such that I actually
wasn't able to speak
and I've tried hard.
I can't actually
remember what it was
that happened to me.
I think maybe one time
I ran into a chair
and I wasn't able
to say anything
for a certain amount
of time.
All I could do
to my parents
was mouth words.
And as a parent
you realize,
okay,
this kid's not going
to be able
to talk for a while
because the force
is so great.
We know
from the other gospels
that these women
went forward
and did exactly
what this angel
told them to do.
They went
and shared
the news
with Jesus'
disciples.
And so what do
we make
of these last
couple phrases?
They said nothing
to anyone
for they
were afraid.
God's greatness.
God's goodness
and his love.
Jesus' power
and authority
overwhelmed them
so much
it knocked
the wind
out of them.
God's goodness.
God's goodness
that's what happens
when we see
God
for who he truly is.
That's why
we don't want
the gospel of Mark
to be merely
an intellectual
exercise.
That's what happens
when we understand
how great God is
and how small
we are.
That's what happens
when we see
how terrible
our sin is
and how great
a forgiveness
we have
in Christ.
It does not
lead us
to make
simply
an interesting
note
in the margin
of our Bibles
although that's
certainly not wrong.
It does not
cause us
to think
theoretical
thoughts
at the end
of the day
and at the
very end
of Mark's
gospel
if we
understand
who Jesus
is
it will
take the
wind
out of us.
If we
understand
what Jesus
has done
we will
have no
choice
but to
tremble.
when
we
see
God
we
will
be
like
Joseph
of
Arimathea
who gives
up his
kingdom
for God's
kingdom.
We will
be
like
these
women
overwhelmed
with
who
God
is.
And so
you can
see why
I think
this is
an
appropriate
ending
to Mark's
gospel.
Mark
actually
tells us
multiple
times
in other
parts
of the
gospel
about
people
having
this
fear
of
God.
Mark
chapter
9
we had
the
transfiguration
remember
Peter,
James,
and John
got to
be part
of this
elite
group
that
went
with
Jesus
and
they
saw
Elijah
and
Moses
at
the
top
of
a
mountain
and
what
are
we
told?
Peter
did
not
know
what
to
say
for
they
were
terrified.
Now
they
Moses
was
going
to
hurt
them
right?
No
they
were
terrified
overwhelmed
by the
power
and
grace
that
was
present.
We're
told the
same
thing
Mark
chapter
4
remember
Jesus
calms
the
storm
and
they
were
filled
with
great
fear
and
said
to
one
another
who
then
is
this
that
even
the
wind
and
the
sea
obey
him?
And
so
verse
8
here
the
last
verse
of
Mark's
gospel
completes
the
pattern.
This
is
what
happens
when
people
see
God
for
who
he
truly
is.
When
we
grasp
our
sin
and
God's
grace
this
is
what
happens.
When
we
grasp
God's
power
and
our
weakness
this
is
how
we
respond.
When
we
understand
how
loving
God
is
that
there's
no one
who
loves
you
more
than
Jesus
loves
you
we
will
have
trembling
and
astonishment.
One
of the
reasons
scholars
are
dissatisfied
by this
ending
even as
they know
that the
addition
is not
original
is that
there's
been all
these
references
throughout
the
gospel
to
what's
going
to
happen
next.
We're
told
Jesus
has
gone
on
to
Galilee.
And
that
they're
going
to
meet
him
there.
They're
told
we're
told
these
women
are
supposed
to
go
and
spread
the
news.
And
the
other
gospels
tell
us
about
those
things.
And
so
some
people
say
well
Mark
must
have
had
an
ending
that
got
lost.
He
must
have
gone
on
to
tell
us
those
things
like
the
other
gospels.
When
in fact
I think
Mark
is saying
this.
Yes
there are
many
things
that
happened
after
Jesus'
resurrection.
Yes
the women
went
and they
shared
the good
news
that was
given
to them
by the
angel.
Yes
they went
on and
met
Jesus
in
Galilee.
Yes
we're
told
at the
beginning
of Acts
and at the
end of
Luke
the
continuing
ministry
of Jesus
and
all
of that
is
downstream
of
knowing
who
God
is.
None
of that
matters
if we
have not
stood
in the
presence
of God
and none
of that
will last
unless
we see
Jesus
for who
he truly
is.
and so
as we
move on
to
Judges
and we
look back
at Mark
what I
don't want
you to
do
is to
think of
it as
just
another
book
that we
studied.
Instead
I want
you to
remember
that Jesus
was the
one who
came
and worked
miracles
because he
is the
king of
all heaven
and earth.
I want
you to
remember
that Jesus
is the
one who
cast out
demons
because there's
no evil
power that
does not
submit to
him.
I want
you to
remember
that he's
the one
who was
in darkness
for three
hours as
he hung
on the
cross
because he
received
God's
judgment
and wrath.
I want
you to
remember
that as
Jesus
prayed in
the garden
of Gethsemane
he was
abandoned
by his
disciples
because in
the end
he was
all alone.
I want
you to
remember
that Peter
denied
Christ
and when
Jesus rose
from the
dead he
said tell
the disciples
and Peter.
I want
you to
remember
that when
the enemy
comes knocking
to accuse
you as
the liar
that he
is
that
Jesus
suffered
under
Pontius
Pilate.
He
received
the
guilty
verdict
so that
we could
be declared
innocent.
The
gospel of
Mark
and
Jesus'
life
and
death
and
resurrection
are
meant
to
change
us
forever.
We
are
meant
to
have
trembling
and
astonishment
and in
a true
and right
sense
to be
afraid.
Of course
as we
come to
the end
of Mark's
gospel
it is not
the end
of the
story.
There are
many many
more things
to come
and all
of them
are
downstream
of this.
What
comes
first
is who
is Jesus
and how
do you
respond to
him?
And who
is Jesus?
He has
more power
than anyone
else.
He has
more glory
than anyone
else.
He has
more love
than anyone
else.
And how
do we
respond to
him?
Verse
7 of
your
worship
guide
says
this,
To
encounter
the
living
God
truly
means
that we
cannot
contain
ourselves.
He
is not
a truth
to be
known
unaffectedly
or a
good
to be
received
listlessly.
Seen
clearly,
the dazzling
beauty
and splendor
of God
must cause
our hearts
to quake.
not
quake
in fear
but
overwhelmed
by God's
love,
power,
authority,
and holiness
and glory.
That causes
us to
follow him
and to
love him
and obey
him.
So that's
why we're
going to
sing now.
Behold
our God
seated on
his throne.
Come
let us
adore
him.
Behold
our
king,
nothing
can
compare.
Come
let us
adore
him.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.