Jesus Lives

MEMORY SELECTION: “He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.” —Mark 16:6

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:42 – 16:8

THE proclamation, “He is risen,” marks that most momentous event—the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who became the first-fruits of those who sleep in death.

The importance of Jesus’ resurrection is brought forcibly to our attention by the Apostle Paul, who wrote (I Cor. 15:16-18), “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” The central theme of the Bible lies in the fact that our Lord was faithful in giving his life for the world of mankind, who are powerless to help themselves. The reality that he arose from death is a guarantee that the Heavenly Father has the power to accomplish such a stupendous task.

It is interesting to note the different ways in which the Gospel writers have recorded the various circumstances surrounding this incident. Although specific occurrences have been emphasized by one, they have not been by others; however, the accounts complement each other in a remarkable way.

Matthew (28:1-6) gives the information concerning the great earthquake and the angel of the Lord who descended from heaven. We also learn that it was the angel who rolled away the great stone from in front of the entrance to the sepulchre and that it was this angel who proclaimed the message, “He is risen,” to the two Marys.

Mark (16:1-8) identifies the women who came to anoint Jesus’ body as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. The stone had already been rolled away when they arrived, and they saw a young man clothed in long white garments sitting on the right side of the sepulchre. He is the one who said to the women, “He is risen.”

Luke’s record (24:1-12) indicates that there were two men in shining garments standing by the sepulchre and that they announced that our Lord Jesus had arisen from the dead. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, together with other women, who ran to tell the apostles of this event.

In John’s Gospel (20:1-18) Mary Magdalene, having seen the stone removed from in front of the door to the sepulchre, ran to give the news to Peter and one of the other apostles. Later (vss. 11,12), she stooped to look into the sepulchre and saw two angels dressed in white. One was sitting at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain.

While the four Gospels differ in some of their particulars in connection with the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ resurrection, when studied together they provide a reliable historical record. When we consider the many varied emotions that must have been experienced during those early hours of the new dispensation it is little wonder that any of the writers could be sure of what actually did happen. We believe, however, that God has overruled the entire matter for the highest spiritual welfare of his people.

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, and even at the time of his death, women believers enjoyed special privileges. There were those who “ministered unto him of their substance.” (Luke 8:3) Others, who may not have had the privilege of contributing to the cost of his earthly ministry, followed him as he made his way to Calvary, as recorded by Luke (23:27), who says, “There followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.” And it was to a woman, Mary Magdalene, that the risen Lord first revealed himself. Of this we read (John 20:14), that she “saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.” However, she soon recognized him when (vs. 16), “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. [Then] she turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

With Jesus’ death and resurrection, a new phase in the plan of God commenced. Soon afterward Jesus ascended to the right hand of his Heavenly Father; the apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit, also the speaking of tongues; the Gospel call was extended to Cornelius and the Gentiles; and a new age of faith began.

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