We concluded our series through the Gospel of Mark and celebrated Easter at Gateway in Austin!
How does the resurrection shape our hope, purpose, and mission as followers of Christ? Are we walking in the newness of life that His resurrection offers, filled with hope, purpose, and the power of His Spirit?
The most victorious moment in the Gospel: Jesus’ resurrection. The stone is rolled away, and the women are told, “He is risen!” Jesus’ resurrection changes everything, offering hope, renewal, and the promise of eternal life. This week, we will celebrate the power of the resurrection and its implications for our own lives.
Digging Deeper
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own or get together with your group, spiritual
running partners, or family to talk through what you are learning.
Message Video from Gateway South Austin:
Message Notes by Carlos Ortiz, Jr:
From a poem written by Jamie Trunnel from her book “A Soul’s Anchor”:
After darkness had its say,
on the third day the tomb’s stone door rolled away.
Again Jesus walked, talked, touched, and ate.
In awe, witnesses testified,
“Death is not his fate!”
He is risen –
The once scared, fleeing disciple crew
turned around realizing the prophecies were true.
With a faith immensely greater than fear,
they sacrificed it all to make the Good News clear.
He is risen–
Jesus bore the world’s sin upon the cross,
sacrificing himself so no one would be lost.
His work was sufficient, but a response is required;
by grace we are saved when our belief transpires.
He is risen–
Faith sends an invite to start anew.
Give Christ your burdens and notions untrue.
Accept his forgiveness and salvation at the end.
Love the transformation the Holy Spirit extends.
He is risen–
When Jesus rose, a new creation began
for all who believe and trust in God’s plans.
Through his power, our darkness is rolled away–
“Jesus is the light,” his resurrection proclaims!
He is risen indeed!
On this day, a few billion people around the world will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Both young and old, rich and poor, male and female, will all unite under one cause, and that is to find renewed hope in Jesus’ resurrection.
For weeks now we have been reading from the book of Mark, and discussing the road to the cross, a road ONCE traveled by Jesus, the Son of God.
His journey was filled with brokenness, unexpected turns, love and betrayal, and ended with the ultimate sacrifice waiting at the end. But it wasn’t the end!
Whether you are here exploring God or here celebrating that Jesus is alive or somewhere in between, I want to invite you to listen with an open heart and open mind as we read this last passage from Mark this Easter Sunday!
From Mark 15:37 – 16:7…
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion (soldier), who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
This Easter weekend, we’re going to answer two questions:
- How are we inspired and challenged by those who witnessed Jesus’ death and/or resurrection?
- What does scripture say about new life that comes from the resurrection?
So who are these people who witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection?
And when the centurion (soldier), who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
The Centurion Soldier Believed Jesus was who he said he was
“Surely this man was the Son of God!”
A centurion soldier was given that title because they would lead a group of at least 100 soldiers, hence the name centurion.
But even more than that, these men (at the time) had to have some qualifications (for that day and age) for service.
Centurions had to be at least 30 years of age, literate (to read written orders), have letters of recommendation, and have at least several years of military service.
So when this educated and experienced soldier is quoted as saying “Surely this man was the Son of God,” it carries a certain amount of weight to it.
You have to remember, this soldier was not raised in a society that was warm to followers of Jesus, he didn’t have any idea that there was a coming Messiah. As we mentioned in the message at our Good Friday service, Romans were raised in a polytheistic society, where there are many gods, including the Emperor himself. Early Roman religion was animistic:
The belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself have souls.
But over time, and as the empire grew, they adopted the gods from the Greeks, and other nations they conquered. So it would not have been out of the norm for the Centurion to be exposed to gods from around the empire, and to see his own leader as a god. But the statement made here carries a different tone.
When he used the word “surely” to describe Jesus as the Son of God, the original word is alēthōs. (Ah – lay – THOS) It’s an adverb that emphasizes what is about to be said. So we would read this verse like this: “Surely, without a doubt, what I am about to say is TRUE. “This man was the son of God!”
After Jesus’ death, we encounter Joseph. In our reading plan for the Holy Week this past week we discovered that Joseph was a “secret” disciple of Jesus.
But now Joseph was inspired to be bold
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
Once the body was released to him we read that he:
…bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
Joseph was a wealthy man, with both financial and spiritual pull in his community, and here he was going before the leader in the region for the Roman Empire.
He was bold in his request
He was bold in his caring of Jesus’ body
He was bold in his generosity towards Jesus
He was bold to not care what others thought about his devotion to Jesus
He was bold enough that it impacted all 4 writers of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
His boldness fulfilled a prophecy (Isaiah 53:9)
You see, boldness had fled the scene once Jesus was arrested.
The men among His disciples had abandoned him, their fear overtook their faith.
But Joseph of Arimathea was bold in his care for Jesus upon his death.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. – Helen Keller
Then we have the women of the story, who didn’t run, who didn’t hide, but also showed us something new and hopeful about the resurrection. They were there for the death of Jesus and for the resurrection.
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
Once he is buried in the tomb, the women of the story were the first to encounter the new chapter.
Mary, Mary and Salome give us hope that this Good News is for everyone!
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But 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 16:1-7
- Jesus not only allowed women to follow his teachings, but encouraged them to actively participate in all that was taking place.
- Being the first to witness the resurrection, they had an important job to do. They were now carriers of the message of Jesus.
- A society that had a hierarchical structure, was certainly no place for women, especially women of certain backgrounds. And yet here we have the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, and these women being entrusted with the greatest news ever because they were actively involved in God’s Kingdom even if they had been marginalized in the kingdoms of this world.
Mary Magdalene had been healed by Jesus, she was possessed by evil spirits, and yet when she found true freedom in Jesus, she became a disciple of his.
Mary, the mother of Jesus was there from the beginning! She had been promised a son, he entered the world and was exactly who the angel said he would be. She too became a disciple of Jesus.
Then we have Salome, who was the wife of Zebedee.
She had two sons (James and John) who were disciples of Jesus, but she too sat at the feet of Jesus.
These three women represented a whole core group of women, who supported Jesus, learned from him and now were empowered to help carry the good news of his resurrection.
A new day had come, a new hope that was spurred by his resurrection!
For those who have faced the evils of life, there is freedom in Jesus!
For those who have believed in their own made up version of spirituality, there is certainty in Jesus!
For those who struggling with anxiety, there is peace in Jesus.
For those struggling with brokenness, there is healing in Jesus.
For those who have been faithful, there is a place of devotion in Jesus!
For those who have felt lost in the shuffle of hierarchy, raising children, known only by who you’re married to, what your job is, there is a new identity in Jesus!
When we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on this Easter morning, we are pointing to a few things:
- Jesus’ words were true and complete
In Mark chapter 8, 9 and 10, Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death, and then he actually did it.
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. – Luke 24
Without the resurrection of Jesus this whole thing is futile, and does not work. But the movement of Jesus has lasted 2000 years because it is true, and the powerful branding that took place in the hearts of those who were witnesses.
- Jesus’ conquered death and the grave for evermore
In John’s vision of the cross in the last book of the Bible he writes about Jesus:
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. – Revelation 1:17-18
What is Jesus telling him? Do not be afraid…I am alive, and I hold the keys to death and all that is associated with the realm of the dead.
- Jesus’ death and resurrection affords us new life in HIM!
We are all spiritually dead in the minutia of our lives. We will all succumb to our vices and sin in our current state, BUT..
4 because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:4-10
Today, choose to believe and follow Jesus!
Today, choose to reconnect with Him and recommit to walking in His ways.
Today, choose to live out your faith in a way that brings more peace, joy, love, and kindness where you work, where you live, and in our world!
Let’s be those who pray and bring more of the kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven!
Romans 8:11 tells us that those who believe have access to the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead!
We have access to His power to live a new life and bring that new life to others!
