Mark 16:1-8 The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion–whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. (Al Mohler) 1.) The Opinion of Contemporary Scholarship - “Jesus lived on in the hearts of followers . . . but he did not physically rise from the dead. Taken down from the cross his body was probably buried in a shallow grave – and may have been eaten by wild dogs.” (R. Watson, “A Lesser Child of God,” Newsweek, April 4, 1994) - “So let us say quite specifically: The tomb of Jesus was not empty, but full, and his body did not disappear but rotted away” (Gerd Lüdemann, What Really Happened to Jesus, 135) - “As a Christian I am very comfortable not knowing whether the tomb was empty. Indeed, the discovery of Jesus’ skeletal remains would not be a problem. It does not matter.” (Marcus Borg, “The Irrelevancy of the Empty Tomb,” in Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?, 123-24). - “At the start, as history’s real terror, were [Jesus’] . . . enemies and the dogs. At the end, as faith’s unreal apologetic, were his friends and the spices. But no amount of apologetics can conceal what their intensity only confirms. With regard to the body of Jesus, by Easter morning, those who cared did not know where it was, and those who knew did not care. (J.D. Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, 158, 1994) 2.) An Examination an Ancient Witness (Mark 16:1-8) a.) The power of a strong love for Jesus Christ (16:1-4) b.) The reality of angels as God’s messengers (16:5,6) c.) Jesus’ graciousness is incomprehensible (16:7) d.) We should never be surprised and the power and goodness of God (16:8) 3.) Does it really matter? a.) If Jesus has been raised from the dead, and he has, the church has a mandate to take the gospel across the street and around the world. To fail to be concerned about the salvation of others is to diminish the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. b.) If one confesses they believe in the resurrection, then they must live a resurrection life. We should build our lives around the things that matter most to God. To say we believe in the resurrection, but live a casual form of pseudo-Christianity is to denigrate the person and work of Christ. c.) If Jesus’ death could save someone like Mary Magdalene, and it did, it can save you. To gain the whole world and forfeit your soul is in the end to lose everything, but to lose everything for Jesus, is in the end lose nothing and to gain everything!
Mark 16:1-8 The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead separates Christianity from all mere religion–whatever its form. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. (Al Mohler) 1.) The Opinion of Contemporary Scholarship - “Jesus lived on in the hearts of followers . . . but he did not physically rise from the dead. Taken down from the cross his body was probably buried in a shallow grave – and may have been eaten by wild dogs.” (R. Watson, “A Lesser Child of God,” Newsweek, April 4, 1994) - “So let us say quite specifically: The tomb of Jesus was not empty, but full, and his body did not disappear but rotted away” (Gerd Lüdemann, What Really Happened to Jesus, 135) - “As a Christian I am very comfortable not knowing whether the tomb was empty. Indeed, the discovery of Jesus’ skeletal remains would not be a problem. It does not matter.” (Marcus Borg, “The Irrelevancy of the Empty Tomb,” in Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?, 123-24). - “At the start, as history’s real terror, were [Jesus’] . . . enemies and the dogs. At the end, as faith’s unreal apologetic, were his friends and the spices. But no amount of apologetics can conceal what their intensity only confirms. With regard to the body of Jesus, by Easter morning, those who cared did not know where it was, and those who knew did not care. (J.D. Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, 158, 1994) 2.) An Examination an Ancient Witness (Mark 16:1-8) a.) The power of a strong love for Jesus Christ (16:1-4) b.) The reality of angels as God’s messengers (16:5,6) c.) Jesus’ graciousness is incomprehensible (16:7) d.) We should never be surprised and the power and goodness of God (16:8) 3.) Does it really matter? a.) If Jesus has been raised from the dead, and he has, the church has a mandate to take the gospel across the street and around the world. To fail to be concerned about the salvation of others is to diminish the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. b.) If one confesses they believe in the resurrection, then they must live a resurrection life. We should build our lives around the things that matter most to God. To say we believe in the resurrection, but live a casual form of pseudo-Christianity is to denigrate the person and work of Christ. c.) If Jesus’ death could save someone like Mary Magdalene, and it did, it can save you. To gain the whole world and forfeit your soul is in the end to lose everything, but to lose everything for Jesus, is in the end lose nothing and to gain everything!