³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. —1 Corinthians 15:3-5,14,17

Christ’s Resurrection!

Is for those who feel

.

¹ When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³ And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
⁶ And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. —Mark 16:1-6

Is for those who have

.

⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him, just as he told you.” —Mark 16:7

Mark 14:66-72, Mark 14:43-46, 50

Is for those who have

.

¹¹ But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. ¹² After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. ¹³ And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
¹⁴ Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. —Mark 16:11-14

Is for those who need

.

¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
¹⁹ So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. —Mark 16:15-20

Is for

.

¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation”. —Mark 16:15

Luke 23:39-43

Take Away – We are hope filled in the present and for the future because JESUS IS ALIVE and is ruling and reigning as our King.

Discussion Questions

Follow Jesus Series

April 9 Christ’s Resurrection (Easter) (Mark 16:1-20)

Stop… Slow down and process your thoughts:

• If worry is nothing more than imagined fear of possible future events, why do we worry?

• Have you ever received great news, but you would not allow yourself to believe it? Why?

• When a young child is given an important assignment, how do they react? Why do we lose this child-like eagerness to please, help, and serve?

Think… Read Mark 16:1-20 and think about this:

• “Our old history ends with the Cross; our new history begins with the resurrection… The Cross terminates the first creation, and out of death there is brought a new creation in Christ, the second Man.” – Watchman Nee Do we miss the meaning and importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?

• “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Act 4:33 How much importance did the apostles place on telling others about Jesus’ resurrection? What was the results?

• “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 Jesus said this to Martha just before He raise Lazarus from the dead. How does this statement combined with the narrative of Mark 16 affect your confidence and courage to be a faithful witness?

Observe… Let’s explore Mark 16:1-20 to see what it says

• Read Mark 16 1-5 “They asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away?’” “They saw that the stone… had been rolled away.” “They saw a young man in a white robe… and they were alarmed.” Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome worried about the large obstacles keeping them from Jesus. But they forgot about the many predictions that He would rise again. How do we focus on obstacles rather than Jesus?

• Read Mark 16:6-8 “Don’t be alarmed… He has risen! See the place… go, tell…” Notice the pattern in the statements made by the angle: 1) change your emotional state, 2) change your thinking, 3) observe the facts, and 4) change your plan. How can we make changes in our life to get on mission with God? Which of these instructions hit home with you?

• Mark 16:15 “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” The word “gospel” means good news. What is the good news we should be sharing? Where should we be sharing it? (Acts 1:8) What obstacles will keep us from achieving this mission? Read Mark 16:1-8 again.

Pray… Ask God to guide you into the path He has for you:

• Finish this prayer: Lord Jesus, I love you and I thank you for…
  

• Jesus, forgive me for those moments when I take for granted the power of your resurrection and forget the mission you have given to me.
  

Plan… Write down your plan to apply this study today and this week:

• Today I am committing to proclaim the message of Jesus’ resurrection.

• My reading plan for this week: Mark 15:41-16:20