Mark #55 - He is Risen

Mark 16:1-8 (NIV) Today’s passage brings us to the end of Mark’s account of the good news of King Jesus. We’ll have one more episode to include the addition to Mark’s gospel- a summary added later to give some clarity to what happened next, since Mark kind of leaves us with a cliffhanger. Just know that it was actually not uncommon in those days for a writer to record a prediction and not necessarily write down the fulfillment. He would have assumed that people who experienced and remembered what happened next would have continued to tell the story. And… they did. There are also some slight differences in the way Mark tells this story. In fact, each of the gospel writers has a slightly different take on it—though not necessarily contradictory to one another. Eyewitness accounts often work this way. People emphasize different details… So as you experience this passage today, enter in. See what details stand out to you. Take note too of where you are right now. What’s around you? What’s going on in your body, and in your mind? What sights, sounds and smells might be influencing your experience of this day? Bring those in with you as you listen and ask the Lord to be tangibly present with you now. ----------REFLECT---------- 1. What points of connection did you find with the women? 2. The women weren’t sure how they would get to Jesus’ body. They knew that they weren’t strong enough to roll away the very large stone. But when they arrived it had already been moved. Sometimes we perceive barriers to Jesus. Maybe something we’ve done. Maybe a lack of belief or faith. Ask the Lord to remove whatever obstacles might hinder you from coming close to him and trust that he is more than capable to roll them out of the way. 3. In keeping with Mark’s theme of the most unlikely folks being the very ones that see Jesus for who he is, he and all of the gospel writers agree that women were the first to see the empty tomb—and even the risen Jesus himself. In that society the testimony of women wasn’t even valid. Yet these were the ones chosen to carry the good news of the resurrection to the others. How does that challenge you? Or encourage you? ----------GO DEEPER---------- Bible Project: Mark Overview >> Bible Project: The Gospel >> Bible Project: Gospel of the Kingdom >> ----------CONNECT---------- Find an InterVarsity Chapter >> Start an InterVarsity Chapter >> Learn More >>