The Resurrection of Jesus
Opening Prayer
Jesus, you are worthy, worthy of all honor, glory, praise, because of who you are as the Son of God, as the Lamb of God who came to live as one of us, to die in our place, to be raised again to new life, Lord Jesus. And it is because of you that we are here, both in reality that you created us, as we just read from your word, but also because of the work of redemption that you have accomplished for us. We now seek you as an expression of our new nature, Lord, we desire to be in relationship with you, to worship you in spirit and in truth, as we have done this morning. We love you, and that is testament to your work of redemption, your love for us. So be glorified, Lord Jesus, in our worship. Now as we turn our attention to your word, we ask that, Spirit, you would help us. You would help us to continue our worship, grow us as your people, Spirit, in our understanding of you, our capacity to live out a life that is worthy of you, our desire to share you with others. Be glorified, as Jason brings forth the message of your gospel, the resurrection account of your resurrection, Jesus, help us. We ask, Lord, that if there's anyone here who has not come to know you personally, that today would be the day of their salvation, according to your will and your power, and we ask that you would be glorified through that. We love you. Thank you for this time, God. It is in the name of the Son of Jesus that we pray, amen.
The Sermon Summary
The sermon, from Pastor Jason, teaches that just as resurrection is a verifiable historical fact, it is also the source of spiritual authority and hope for believers. The pastor draws on these truths to challenge the listeners to respond personally: embrace new life, live in relationship with God, worship in truth, and bear witness to the resurrected Lord, just as the historical church has done. The ultimate goal is transformation—both personal and communal—anchored in Christ’s resurrection, which validates Christian spiritual claims and empowers faith and mission.
“The empty tomb is not the end, it's the beginning. It's an invitation to move forward in faith, to trust his promises, and to live as people who know that the crucified one is the resurrected one. Jesus is alive. He has risen. He is not here.
He still has something for us. Our story is not done. The work of salvation is completed, but the work that he's given us is still here for us to do. The empty tomb is not the end, it's the beginning. It's an invitation to move forward in faith, to trust his promises, and to live as people who know that the crucified one is the resurrected one. Jesus is alive. He has risen. He is not here. We are called to live as people who believe and know and practice that the crucified one is the resurrected one. We are a people who can face tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that, because he lives”.
Pastor Jason’s 4 Main Points
1. The Women Witnesses (v 1-2)
The account in Mark emphasizes that the women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—were present both at Jesus' burial and now at the empty tomb. Their presence serves as firsthand, eyewitness testimony. The narrative explicitly identifies the correct tomb and the same women, ruling out the idea of a mistaken location. This confirmation shows the resurrection is not a vague myth but is grounded in real, historical observation by known and reputable followers, reinforcing the truth of the resurrection as an event seen and testified by credible people.
2. The Guarded Grave (v 3-4)
There's confirmation in the guarded grave. As these women were on their way to the tomb of Jesus, Mark tells us that they were having a conversation among themselves. Again, as witnesses to the burial of Jesus, they knew about a large obstacle that stood in the way of them anointing the body of Jesus and their conversation that morning centered around that large obstacle. Look at verse three, and they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? They were concerned about the large stone that had been rolled in front of the tomb and the reason why they were concerned about it is because this wasn't just a little rock. Chances are it was at least two to three tons in weight. Needless to say, these women were not rolling that stone away.
3. The Angel’s Announcement (v 5-6)
The stone is rolled away and the body is gone, but the grave clothes remain—indicating the body was not stolen or moved by human hands, but that something supernatural has occurred. This tangible, physical evidence is paired with the angel’s authoritative declaration: "He is risen; he is not here." The angel’s message interprets the empty tomb, which on its own could be ambiguous, and clearly proclaims the core of the Christian gospel—that Jesus, the crucified one, is now alive. The combination of the observable empty tomb and the divinely given explanation together confirm the reality of the resurrection beyond doubt.
4. The Confusing Conclusion (v 7-8)
Pastor Jason’s conclusion regarding Mark 16:7-8 emphasizes both the grace extended to those who have failed and the profound encounter the women experienced at the tomb, which left them both amazed and fearful. He highlights the angel’s specific mention of Peter as a sign of forgiveness and restoration, stating:
“Why the special mention of Peter? Jesus wanted to meet all of his disciples. I think if I was Peter, I would have said, ‘You guys go on without me. Jesus doesn’t want to see me.’ That’s why this young man mentions Peter’s name in particular. Jesus isn’t done with him yet. … Our standing is based not on our performance, because we won’t get it right. Our standing is based on the grace shown to sinners at the cross and resurrection. The biggest failures become the biggest evidences of God’s grace.”
Regarding verse 8, Pastor Jason notes the women’s fear and astonishment as evidence of the overwhelming reality of encountering God’s supernatural work. He summarizes that this abrupt and emotional conclusion challenges everyone personally:
“Mark has given us the earliest account of Jesus’ life. It ends on this high note: Jesus has risen from the grave. And then Mark turns to each of us and essentially says, ‘What are you going to do with this news?’”
Thus, the conclusion combines grace for the fallen, the call to witness, and a challenge to respond in awe and action to the resurrection.
Scripture Verses Quoted or Referenced
(John 1:29 ESV) Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away sin:
"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
(Romans 5:8 ESV) Jesus died in our place:
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 6:4 ESV) Raised to new life:
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
(John 4:24 ESV) Worship in spirit and truth:
"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
(Ephesians 2:8 ESV) Salvation as a gift:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
(Mark 16:1–8 ESV) The Resurrection Account:
"When the Sabbath was past, 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. 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 laid 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.
Other Main Points from the Sermon
1. Worship of Jesus – Jesus is worthy of all honor and praise due to His identity as the Son of God and the Lamb of God who redeems us.
2. Resurrection as Daily Reality – The resurrection of Jesus should be celebrated daily, as believers are called to be "Easter people" who live in the light of His resurrection.
3. Women as Witnesses – The presence of women at the tomb serves as a historical confirmation of the resurrection, highlighting their devotion despite societal norms that diminished their credibility (Mark 16:1-2).
4. Guarded Grave – The stone sealing the tomb and the Roman guards were human efforts to prevent tampering, but they could not stop God's plan, as the stone was miraculously rolled away (Mark 16:3-4).
5. Angel's Announcement – The angel's message confirmed the resurrection, assuring the women that they were at the right tomb and that Jesus had risen, fulfilling His prophecy (Mark 16:6).
6. Confusing Conclusion – The abrupt ending of Mark's Gospel invites readers to respond to the resurrection, emphasizing that it requires a personal response of faith (Mark 16:8).
7. Jesus' Faithfulness – Despite the disciples' failures, Jesus remains faithful and includes them in His plans, demonstrating grace and the promise of restoration (Mark 16:7).
8. Call to Action – Believers are encouraged to live boldly and obediently in light of the resurrection, sharing the Gospel and fulfilling the mission given by Jesus.
9. Invitation to Salvation – The sermon emphasizes the importance of responding to the Gospel message with repentance and faith.
10. Living in Resurrection Power – The resurrection of Jesus empowers believers to face challenges with hope and courage, as He is alive and active in their lives.
Historical References Regarding the Resurrection
The pastor emphasizes the resurrection as the pivotal historical event in Christian faith, marked as both a real event and the basis of salvation. Historically, Christian teaching holds that Jesus’ resurrection was witnessed by many, forms the foundation of the gospel proclamation, and distinguishes Christianity as a faith based on a risen and living Savior. This links back to the sermon's message that worship, spiritual authority, and the offer of salvation are credible because of the literal, historic resurrection of Jesus.
Pastor’s Closing Prayer
Father, you know me better than I even know myself. You know that this week has been a little easier to study your Word, been a little more joyful to look at the resurrection of Christ over the last few weeks as we've looked at your crucifixion, as we've looked at the death of Jesus, the burial of Jesus. All of those, the truth, all of those, the Word of God, all of those necessary for our salvation, and all of those point to the empty tomb, the resurrected Christ. The crucified one is the resurrected one. What glorious news, that he has risen. He is not here. There's no need to look for the living among the dead. He has risen. He's alive. …Father, I pray now that if there's someone in this room right now that has never trusted in Christ alone for salvation, not on themselves, not on their works, not on relationships, not on money, not on societal standing, but on Christ alone, may today be the day that they respond in repentance and faith. As Holy Spirit, you do the work that only you can do in their hearts. May they believe. And then for us as your people, may we live with courage and conviction and obedience and resolve in our spine that Jesus Christ has resurrected from the dead and that we still have work to do here to spread the glorious news of the gospel, that we're a part of the story. Would you help us to play our part in the body? In Jesus' name, amen.