Day 29, On The Road To Pentecost: WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?

Mark 16:1-8

The Gospel of Mark begins the telling of the post resurrection event with “ Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome” (vs. 1), going to the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid.  They went there to complete the burial process began on Friday but that was cut short because of the beginning of Sabbath at sundown on Friday.  They had no idea as to what was about to rock their world.

The women knew their first challenge would be to get someone to roll away the large stone that was used to seal the entrance to the tomb.  Upon arriving they discovered that the stone had already been rolled away.  As they entered the open tomb they were shocked and amazed when “they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe (vs. 5).  The young man told them not to “be amazed” (vs. 6) and that he knew they were looking for Jesus but that Jesus wasn’t there.  His words were simply, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.  He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him” (vs. 6).  Then, he sent them off to tell Jesus’ disciples, particularly Peter, to meet up with Him in Galilee.  “There,” he said, “you will see Him, just as He told you” (vs. 7).  And off they went “trembling” and in “astonishment” (vs. 8).  

Over the next fifty days of so, Jesus would reveal Himself to be alive, both to His disciples and to several hundred other people.  This revelation would set into motion a movement that would exist simply, and only, because Jesus had been raised from the dead.  They would serve a living Savior not a dead martyr.  “He is risen,” would be their rally cry. They would live, suffer, and face martyrdom because they knew that Jesus was alive.  They would not be denied.  The opponents would seek to shut the movement down only to see it spread more rapidly.  The old song says,

Low in the grave He lay 

Waiting the coming day. 

Vainly they watched His bed, 

Vainly they seal the dead.  

Death cannot keep his prey

 He tore the bars away.  

Up from the grave He arose,  

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.  

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,  

And He lives forever with His saints to reign

                                Robert Lowry, 1874

So it is we sing,

I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today. 

I know that He is living, whatever men may say. 

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer; 

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.                               

                                 Alfred H. Ackley, 1933