SOME THOUGHTS ON THE RESURRECTION—GO AND TELL

Let me remind you this morning: CHRIST IS RISEN!

Recall how the first resurrection day began. The Gospel of Mark chapter 16 begins with three women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—making their way to the tomb before dawn. They were hopeless. Jesus was dead, and they were carrying spices with them to finish anointing His dead body for burial.

The sun had just begun to chase away the mist of the night as they walked along, and they wondered aloud about who would roll the heavy stone away from the entrance for them. When they arrived at the tomb, however, they found the stone had already been rolled away. As they entered, they saw an angel who said:

“Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).

The angel's simple declaration announced the most important event in human history. Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried—and on the third day, He arose. That news was too good not to share, so the angel instructed them:

“Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you’” (Mark 16:7).

The women had to tell somebody—especially Peter, who had disowned Jesus. The story of Jesus is a COME-AND-SEE then GO-AND-TELL kind of event. COME and SEE the empty tomb—then GO and TELL the others. COME and SEE what Jesus has done—then GO and TELL SOMEBODY what you saw. And that’s exactly what they did.  The event changed the world one person at a time—including me.

Christ is RISEN! He is RISEN, INDEED! It’s ALL TRUE! Jesus died on a Roman cross for our sin. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. And when the women went to the tomb that first Easter morning, it was empty. Jesus was risen and living—having conquered death and hell—and opening the door to abundant and eternal life for all who believe.

COME AND SEE, then GO AND TELL anyone and everyone: CHRIST IS RISEN!

Bishop Jeff Greenway