100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:07,680Christian faith does not hang on personal interpretations.200:00:07,680 –> 00:00:15,540Christian faith hangs on God’s explanation of what God has done.300:00:17,059 –> 00:00:23,580And a Christian is a person who believes God’s explanation of what God has done.400:00:24,320 –> 00:00:28,059Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.500:00:28,120 –> 00:00:33,200Glad you could be with us today and, Colin, I bet you’ve often been told that’s just your interpretation.600:00:33,240 –> 00:00:36,419I mean, that’s postmodernism. So it’s just your point of view700:00:36,419 –> 00:00:41,320and one person’s point of view isn’t as valid as another person’s point of view.800:00:41,320 –> 00:00:47,240Well, that would be true if we were only told about the events of what God has done in the Bible.900:00:47,259 –> 00:00:50,419Then it would be up to us to kind of interpret them and explain.1000:00:50,560 –> 00:00:55,680But the wonderful thing is that God has not only acted, he’s told us what his actions mean.1100:00:55,700 –> 00:00:58,200It’s not only that he sent his Son into the world,1200:00:58,200 –> 00:01:03,680he’s told us that this person is Jesus because he’s come to save his people from their sins.1300:01:03,680 –> 00:01:06,019It’s not just that a man died on a cross,1400:01:06,099 –> 00:01:11,660but that this is the Son of God and that he bore our sins and when he rises from the dead1500:01:11,660 –> 00:01:17,680he rises for our justification so that we will have new life that God gives to us.1600:01:17,739 –> 00:01:23,860So God gives us the explanation and the question really is do I believe,1700:01:23,860 –> 00:01:27,360have I put my trust in, do I agree with God’s explanation?1800:01:27,360 –> 00:01:31,139I don’t wanna be disagreeing with what God has told me his own actions actually mean.1900:01:31,139 –> 00:01:35,940So, when you get that response, that’s just your interpretation, how do you respond to that?2000:01:36,019 –> 00:01:39,379Well I’d like to say, well let’s talk about God’s interpretation2100:01:39,379 –> 00:01:44,820because God has given us his explanation of events in the Bible.2200:01:44,820 –> 00:01:49,059Let’s look at what he says and then, do we really wanna be in the position of saying2300:01:49,059 –> 00:01:51,300I disagree with what God has said?2400:01:51,300 –> 00:01:53,320It’s a marvellous thing that the Bible is God speaking,2500:01:53,320 –> 00:01:56,620God telling us not only what he’s done but what it means!2600:01:56,720 –> 00:02:02,599In a sense it’s not that you’re defending God, it’s he’s defending himself and making his own arguments.2700:02:02,599 –> 00:02:05,940So, let’s get into Mark Chapter 16 today.2800:02:05,940 –> 00:02:09,619As we begin the message, Jesus offers life to his people.2900:02:09,619 –> 00:02:10,740Here’s Colin.3000:02:11,059 –> 00:02:14,500Now, before we come to the message of the resurrection this morning,3100:02:14,500 –> 00:02:17,300if you’ve got your Bible open at Mark Chapter 16,3200:02:18,119 –> 00:02:22,020I want us to notice that we are faced with a problem3300:02:22,020 –> 00:02:24,919that comes right at the end of Mark’s gospel.3400:02:24,919 –> 00:02:26,800And the problem is simply this.3500:02:27,740 –> 00:02:31,320Where does Mark’s gospel end?3600:02:32,759 –> 00:02:37,080If you have the pewBible that the Church supplies,3700:02:37,080 –> 00:02:38,679that is the New International Version,3800:02:38,679 –> 00:02:43,600you will notice that at the end of verse 8, and before verse 9,3900:02:44,360 –> 00:02:46,399you have these words.4000:02:46,399 –> 00:02:50,440The most reliable early manuscripts4100:02:50,440 –> 00:02:53,119and other ancient witnesses4200:02:53,119 –> 00:02:58,119do not have Mark Chapter 16 verses 9 through 20.4300:03:01,619 –> 00:03:06,460Now, if Mark’s gospel ends at Mark Chapter 16 and verse 8,4400:03:06,460 –> 00:03:08,100as I believe it did,4500:03:09,360 –> 00:03:10,960let’s look at what we’ve got.4600:03:12,039 –> 00:03:12,919Number one,4700:03:13,759 –> 00:03:16,100the women visit the tomb4800:03:16,100 –> 00:03:19,460and they find that the stone is rolled away.4900:03:19,460 –> 00:03:21,199The tomb is empty.5000:03:21,199 –> 00:03:22,779Number two.5100:03:22,779 –> 00:03:25,520The angel tells the women what happened.5200:03:25,520 –> 00:03:29,199Verse six, Jesus has risen.5300:03:29,199 –> 00:03:30,960And verse seven, they are to go5400:03:30,960 –> 00:03:33,360and they are to tell the disciples5500:03:33,360 –> 00:03:35,199that they can meet up with Jesus5600:03:35,199 –> 00:03:38,020who has gone ahead of them into Galilee.5700:03:39,259 –> 00:03:43,440Third, the women are overwhelmed with fear.5800:03:43,460 –> 00:03:45,320They say nothing to anyone.5900:03:45,320 –> 00:03:49,080Verse eight, trembling and bewildered,6000:03:49,080 –> 00:03:52,800the women went out and fled from the tomb.6100:03:52,800 –> 00:03:57,800They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.6200:03:58,660 –> 00:04:00,600You read verse eight and you say,6300:04:00,600 –> 00:04:02,919well that’s the end of the gospel?6400:04:02,919 –> 00:04:04,919Come on, can’t be.6500:04:06,679 –> 00:04:09,399Put this alongside the other gospels.6600:04:10,240 –> 00:04:13,720Matthew, the great commission.6700:04:14,580 –> 00:04:19,579Go into all the world, make disciples,6800:04:20,119 –> 00:04:22,420baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son6900:04:22,420 –> 00:04:24,079and the Holy Spirit.7000:04:24,079 –> 00:04:26,200Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you7100:04:26,200 –> 00:04:30,480and, lo, I will be with you always.7200:04:30,480 –> 00:04:32,859Put it alongside Luke.7300:04:32,859 –> 00:04:35,320The promise of the Holy Spirit7400:04:35,320 –> 00:04:39,160and the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.7500:04:39,160 –> 00:04:42,600I am going to send you what my Father has promised you,7600:04:42,600 –> 00:04:46,239but stay in the city until you are clothed7700:04:46,239 –> 00:04:47,920with power from on high7800:04:47,920 –> 00:04:50,059and then he was taken up into heaven7900:04:50,059 –> 00:04:51,779out of their sight.8000:04:51,779 –> 00:04:53,660That sounds like an ending to me.8100:04:54,600 –> 00:04:59,519John, that beautiful scene where John records8200:04:59,519 –> 00:05:02,799that Peter meets up with Jesus at Galilee8300:05:02,799 –> 00:05:07,640and after a fishing expedition, Jesus restores Peter.8400:05:07,660 –> 00:05:09,619Peter, do you love me?8500:05:09,619 –> 00:05:11,600You know that I love you, feed my sheep.8600:05:11,600 –> 00:05:13,640Peter, do you love me?8700:05:13,640 –> 00:05:17,220You know, Lord, that I love you, feed my sheep.8800:05:17,220 –> 00:05:19,679Peter, do you love me?8900:05:19,679 –> 00:05:23,239Lord, you know that I love you, feed my sheep,9000:05:23,239 –> 00:05:26,459and after this Jesus said to them all, follow me,9100:05:28,040 –> 00:05:31,500and then Mark, trembling and bewildered,9200:05:31,500 –> 00:05:33,480the women went out and fled from the tomb.9300:05:33,480 –> 00:05:36,239They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.9400:05:38,359 –> 00:05:41,640I can see why some folks in the early church9500:05:41,640 –> 00:05:44,799thought that Mark’s gospel needed a better ending9600:05:44,799 –> 00:05:46,779than that, can’t you see that?9700:05:49,000 –> 00:05:52,420If Mark’s gospel ended at verse eight,9800:05:52,420 –> 00:05:54,739there are no resurrection appearances,9900:05:55,839 –> 00:05:58,160no great commission,10000:05:58,160 –> 00:06:00,720no ascension into heaven.10100:06:02,420 –> 00:06:05,459If indeed, Mark’s gospel ends at verse eight,10200:06:05,459 –> 00:06:09,279it kind of looks like an unfinished story.10300:06:10,440 –> 00:06:12,540So, it is not surprising that folks,10400:06:12,540 –> 00:06:15,059at some point later, we do not know when,10500:06:15,059 –> 00:06:18,720felt that they had to spice the ending up10600:06:18,720 –> 00:06:20,959by adding things that were already known10700:06:20,959 –> 00:06:22,880from the other gospels,10800:06:22,880 –> 00:06:24,679and you will find if you read the longer ending10900:06:24,679 –> 00:06:27,079that it includes three resurrection appearances,11000:06:27,079 –> 00:06:29,839the great commission, and an account of the ascension.11100:06:31,380 –> 00:06:32,980So which way are we to go?11200:06:33,480 –> 00:06:38,459The unfinished story or the longer ending?11300:06:40,640 –> 00:06:41,500Now, I have to say to you11400:06:41,500 –> 00:06:44,119this is not simply a question of preference.11500:06:44,119 –> 00:06:45,760It’s not like Burgher King,11600:06:45,760 –> 00:06:49,640with their marvelous slogan, have it your way,11700:06:49,640 –> 00:06:52,279how would you like your bible, sir?11800:06:52,279 –> 00:06:55,040Would you like it with the unfinished story11900:06:55,040 –> 00:06:58,200or would you personally prefer the longer ending?12000:06:58,200 –> 00:06:59,480Have it your way.12100:06:59,480 –> 00:07:00,760No, it’s not like that.12200:07:00,760 –> 00:07:03,940There really is only one question here.12300:07:03,940 –> 00:07:08,160And it’s this, what did Mark write?12400:07:08,160 –> 00:07:12,100Or, to put it another way, where did Mark finish?12500:07:12,100 –> 00:07:15,500And scholars who have studied the manuscripts12600:07:15,500 –> 00:07:18,980and have also studied very carefully the grammar12700:07:18,980 –> 00:07:22,220and the style of these last 12 verses,12800:07:22,220 –> 00:07:24,399verses nine through 20,12900:07:24,399 –> 00:07:27,260have come to the clear and repeated conclusion13000:07:27,260 –> 00:07:30,899that Mark did indeed end at verse eight13100:07:30,899 –> 00:07:33,299and that verse nine through 2013200:07:33,299 –> 00:07:35,160that these verses were added later,13300:07:35,160 –> 00:07:37,239in other words that they were not written by Mark13400:07:37,239 –> 00:07:39,799and that they are therefore not part of the gospel13500:07:39,799 –> 00:07:41,279and that the New International Version13600:07:41,279 –> 00:07:42,540and many other versions of the Bible13700:07:42,540 –> 00:07:45,399is absolutely right in separating them off13800:07:45,399 –> 00:07:48,600and indicating to us that this was not part13900:07:48,600 –> 00:07:51,160of what Mark originally wrote,14000:07:51,160 –> 00:07:52,739so I’m convinced,14100:07:52,739 –> 00:07:54,059and we can be very confident,14200:07:54,059 –> 00:07:57,140that Mark ended his gospel at verse eight14300:07:57,519 –> 00:08:02,519and that God intended it to be so,14400:08:04,239 –> 00:08:05,600and that’s the point.14500:08:06,739 –> 00:08:09,220I want us to see this morning14600:08:09,220 –> 00:08:11,859that God has something to say to us14700:08:11,859 –> 00:08:15,359about the resurrection from this gospel14800:08:15,359 –> 00:08:19,359that is distant from what we find in the other three.14900:08:19,359 –> 00:08:23,459God, after all, wonderfully has given us four gospels15000:08:23,459 –> 00:08:26,779and each one gives us a distinct witness15100:08:26,779 –> 00:08:28,899to our Lord Jesus Christ.15200:08:28,899 –> 00:08:31,200And there is something that God wants us to know15300:08:31,200 –> 00:08:33,460from the ending of this gospel15400:08:33,460 –> 00:08:35,940that you will not find in the others,15500:08:35,940 –> 00:08:40,940and that is what I want us to grasp together today.15600:08:41,059 –> 00:08:42,340You’re listening to open the Bible15700:08:42,340 –> 00:08:44,739with pastor Colin Smith and a message called15800:08:44,739 –> 00:08:47,460Jesus Offers Life to His People.15900:08:47,460 –> 00:08:49,340It’s the final message in our series,16000:08:49,340 –> 00:08:51,299The Gospel According to Jesus.16100:08:51,299 –> 00:08:53,539And if you’ve missed any of the series so far,16200:08:53,539 –> 00:08:55,400or if you want to go back and listen again,16300:08:55,400 –> 00:08:57,679you can do that by coming online to our website,16400:08:57,679 –> 00:09:01,440openthebible.org.uk and there you’ll find16500:09:01,440 –> 00:09:04,280all the messages that have already been broadcast.16600:09:04,280 –> 00:09:06,119You can also find the most podcast16700:09:06,119 –> 00:09:07,799if that’s a better way for you to keep up16800:09:07,799 –> 00:09:09,359with pastor Colin’s teaching.16900:09:09,359 –> 00:09:11,919And those are available on all the main podcast sites17000:09:11,919 –> 00:09:15,080by searching for Open the Bible UK.17100:09:15,080 –> 00:09:18,200Back to the message now we’re in Mark chapter 16,17200:09:18,200 –> 00:09:19,320here’s Colin.17300:09:19,320 –> 00:09:21,539We’re going to focus on three things.17400:09:21,539 –> 00:09:25,580The first is the explanation that the angel gives17500:09:25,580 –> 00:09:28,460to the women with regard to the resurrection17600:09:28,460 –> 00:09:29,559of Jesus Christ.17700:09:29,559 –> 00:09:33,880Will you focus with me on verses five and six?17800:09:33,880 –> 00:09:37,039Mark says, that the women who came to the tomb17900:09:37,039 –> 00:09:42,039saw a young man dressed in a white robe, verse five.18000:09:42,419 –> 00:09:46,559Now, Matthew tells us in chapter 28 in verse five,18100:09:46,559 –> 00:09:48,820that they saw an angel.18200:09:48,820 –> 00:09:53,260So, what we have here is Mark describing the appearance,18300:09:53,260 –> 00:09:55,280the one who was there looks like18400:09:55,280 –> 00:09:58,299a young man dressed in a white robe.18500:09:58,299 –> 00:10:01,479Matthew is describing the identity.18600:10:01,479 –> 00:10:04,739Clearly, this was an angel who appeared in the tomb18700:10:04,739 –> 00:10:09,739and the angel said, verse six, don’t be alarmed.18800:10:09,820 –> 00:10:11,940You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene,18900:10:11,940 –> 00:10:13,320who was crucified.19000:10:14,179 –> 00:10:15,059He has risen.19100:10:15,619 –> 00:10:20,619He is not here, see the place where they laid him.19200:10:23,119 –> 00:10:27,419I want you to notice that it is an angel from heaven19300:10:27,419 –> 00:10:31,419who tells the women that Jesus is risen.19400:10:31,419 –> 00:10:32,859Have you noticed that before?19500:10:34,260 –> 00:10:37,700It was not that Mary got into the tomb,19600:10:37,700 –> 00:10:41,140saw that it was empty, turned around to Salome and said19700:10:41,140 –> 00:10:44,200you know, Salome, he must have risen from the dead.19800:10:45,419 –> 00:10:49,840That thought did not even occur to the women.19900:10:51,159 –> 00:10:53,700It was the angel who told them.20000:10:54,780 –> 00:10:57,260Now, that is very important because some people20100:10:57,260 –> 00:11:02,260have the idea that faith is about creating your own reality.20200:11:02,739 –> 00:11:04,940Their suggestion is, you know, that the women20300:11:04,940 –> 00:11:08,760and later the disciples had such an intense desire20400:11:08,760 –> 00:11:11,239that Jesus should be with them that they kind of20500:11:11,239 –> 00:11:14,020created this reality in their own minds20600:11:14,119 –> 00:11:16,619and that if you are inclined to be a person of faith20700:11:16,619 –> 00:11:18,840then you can also create this reality20800:11:18,840 –> 00:11:22,219within your own mind, but there is no objective reality20900:11:22,219 –> 00:11:26,140to correspond to a Jesus who is risen from the dead.21000:11:26,140 –> 00:11:28,280Well, what Mark tells us here21100:11:28,280 –> 00:11:30,539makes such a suggestion impossible.21200:11:31,619 –> 00:11:34,320The women went to the tomb, he says,21300:11:34,320 –> 00:11:37,179to anoint the body of Jesus.21400:11:37,179 –> 00:11:39,340Their minds were not filled with thoughts21500:11:39,340 –> 00:11:41,239of him being alive, but filled with thoughts21600:11:41,239 –> 00:11:43,260of him being dead.21700:11:43,260 –> 00:11:44,359That’s why they went.21800:11:45,320 –> 00:11:47,039The issue that dominated their mind,21900:11:47,039 –> 00:11:48,359Mark tells us on the journey,22000:11:48,359 –> 00:11:50,719was who would move away the stone.22100:11:51,820 –> 00:11:54,159And even when they find that the tomb is empty22200:11:54,159 –> 00:11:57,619the thought that Jesus is risen does not occur to them,22300:11:57,619 –> 00:11:59,179they have to be told.22400:12:00,119 –> 00:12:04,039And even after they are told by the angel22500:12:04,039 –> 00:12:06,840they are still left bewildered, verse eight,22600:12:06,840 –> 00:12:10,080terrified and silent.22700:12:10,099 –> 00:12:13,440So there’s absolutely no basis whatsoever here22800:12:13,440 –> 00:12:16,140from the evidence that Mark gives to us22900:12:16,140 –> 00:12:20,859that these women were somehow creating their own reality.23000:12:20,859 –> 00:12:22,359Let me tell you that is very important23100:12:22,359 –> 00:12:25,960because I wish, I really wish23200:12:25,960 –> 00:12:28,840that I could have one dollar23300:12:28,840 –> 00:12:32,239for every person who has heard the gospel23400:12:32,239 –> 00:12:34,640and then said to the person who told them,23500:12:35,559 –> 00:12:38,140well that’s just your interpretation.23600:12:39,059 –> 00:12:41,739I tell you I would be a multimillionaire23700:12:41,739 –> 00:12:45,719if I had one dollar for every person who’s ever said that.23800:12:45,719 –> 00:12:49,599That’s just your interpretation.23900:12:50,940 –> 00:12:55,599Now listen, the resurrection was not24000:12:55,599 –> 00:12:58,020the women’s interpretation.24100:12:59,619 –> 00:13:04,619The resurrection is not a believer’s interpretation.24200:13:05,520 –> 00:13:10,140The resurrection is God’s revelation24300:13:11,119 –> 00:13:16,020through an angel sent from heaven to explain24400:13:16,020 –> 00:13:19,119what the women otherwise would not have guessed24500:13:19,119 –> 00:13:21,039nor comprehended.24600:13:22,359 –> 00:13:24,799See, Christian faith does not hang24700:13:24,799 –> 00:13:27,320on personal interpretations.24800:13:28,440 –> 00:13:33,380Christian faith hangs on God’s explanation24900:13:33,380 –> 00:13:35,400of what God has done,25000:13:36,500 –> 00:13:39,799and a Christian is a person who believes25100:13:39,799 –> 00:13:43,280God’s explanation of what God has done.25200:13:43,280 –> 00:13:46,659You see, we need not only what God has done,25300:13:46,659 –> 00:13:50,000but the explanation, God’s explanation of what he has done.25400:13:50,000 –> 00:13:52,239Otherwise, we can never come to faith.25500:13:52,239 –> 00:13:53,119Think of it.25600:13:53,119 –> 00:13:56,359If all we had at Christmas25700:13:56,359 –> 00:14:00,419was the story of a baby who was born to a virgin,25800:14:00,619 –> 00:14:03,380we would be scratching our heads forever25900:14:03,380 –> 00:14:06,580trying to work out what the significance of this was.26000:14:06,580 –> 00:14:07,539What do we need?26100:14:08,440 –> 00:14:10,820That God should send someone from Heaven26200:14:10,820 –> 00:14:15,479to explain to us that this is the Son of God.26300:14:15,479 –> 00:14:19,520That this Jesus is God with us, God in the flesh.26400:14:20,460 –> 00:14:22,140If all we had on Good Friday26500:14:22,140 –> 00:14:25,460was the record that Jesus died on the cross,26600:14:25,460 –> 00:14:27,739we would never know what this means.26700:14:27,739 –> 00:14:29,979We could never understand its significance.26800:14:29,979 –> 00:14:32,280It takes God to give us the explanation.26900:14:32,280 –> 00:14:33,179And what is it?27000:14:33,179 –> 00:14:37,619God says, this Jesus is dying for your sins.27100:14:37,619 –> 00:14:39,940Christian faith rests on that.27200:14:39,940 –> 00:14:42,539And if all we had at Easter was the empty tomb,27300:14:42,539 –> 00:14:45,700we would be and we were left to our own interpretation.27400:14:45,700 –> 00:14:47,260We would never know what has happened.27500:14:47,260 –> 00:14:49,340So God gives us the explanation.27600:14:49,340 –> 00:14:51,340This is what you need to understand.27700:14:51,340 –> 00:14:56,340This Jesus who was crucified is risen from the dead.27800:14:57,299 –> 00:15:00,059See the birth and the death and the resurrection27900:15:00,059 –> 00:15:01,400of the Lord Jesus Christ are events28000:15:01,400 –> 00:15:03,219outside of our experience.28100:15:03,219 –> 00:15:05,619We have no categories for interpreting them28200:15:05,619 –> 00:15:10,619unless God should explain to us what they mean.28300:15:11,640 –> 00:15:14,380God gives us the interpretation.28400:15:15,440 –> 00:15:19,299God tells us what happened.28500:15:20,460 –> 00:15:22,500And what that means for us is this,28600:15:22,500 –> 00:15:24,340that Christian faith does not rest28700:15:24,380 –> 00:15:29,140on our feelings, doesn’t rest on our insights,28800:15:29,140 –> 00:15:31,719it doesn’t rest on our interpretations.28900:15:32,900 –> 00:15:36,580Christian faith rests on God’s explanation29000:15:36,580 –> 00:15:40,780of his own actions revealed to us29100:15:40,780 –> 00:15:43,260and recorded for us in the scriptures.29200:15:43,260 –> 00:15:47,059He has risen.29300:15:47,059 –> 00:15:48,340Who says so?29400:15:49,840 –> 00:15:51,159God says so!29500:15:52,119 –> 00:15:56,419And you can stake your life and your eternity29600:15:57,400 –> 00:15:58,320on that.29700:15:59,919 –> 00:16:04,700Now, don’t you just feel thankful today29800:16:06,659 –> 00:16:08,640that the God of the Bible speaks?29900:16:09,900 –> 00:16:12,460That the God of the Bible makes himself known30000:16:12,460 –> 00:16:14,080so that we may know him,30100:16:14,960 –> 00:16:17,719that the God of the Bible reveals the truth30200:16:17,719 –> 00:16:19,500so that we may come to him?30300:16:21,460 –> 00:16:23,880Tell you, if you don’t believe in a God who speaks,30400:16:23,880 –> 00:16:26,739you don’t believe in the God of the Bible.30500:16:26,739 –> 00:16:30,859The God of the Bible makes himself known to Moses30600:16:30,859 –> 00:16:34,359and makes himself known in Jesus Christ,30700:16:34,359 –> 00:16:36,200and it is because he reveals,30800:16:36,200 –> 00:16:37,640because he makes himself known,30900:16:37,640 –> 00:16:42,460because he makes truth known that we have a basis for faith.31000:16:43,619 –> 00:16:47,239And you can stake your life and your eternity31100:16:48,159 –> 00:16:53,159on God’s Word, explaining God’s action in Jesus Christ.31200:16:53,280 –> 00:16:55,460The one born is the Son of God,31300:16:55,460 –> 00:16:57,679and, when he died, he died for your sins,31400:16:57,679 –> 00:16:59,039and when the tomb was empty,31500:16:59,039 –> 00:17:03,919the reason was he has risen from the dead.31600:17:04,920 –> 00:17:08,660Not our interpretation, God’s explanation,31700:17:09,680 –> 00:17:14,680his word on which you can stake your life and your eternity.31800:17:15,359 –> 00:17:16,760That’s the first thing.31900:17:16,760 –> 00:17:18,579Here’s the second.32000:17:18,579 –> 00:17:22,020Mark gives us a fascinating description32100:17:22,020 –> 00:17:25,060of what happened next.32200:17:25,060 –> 00:17:28,520I used to enjoy a sports quiz program32300:17:28,520 –> 00:17:29,579that was over in the UK.32400:17:29,579 –> 00:17:32,979I have not yet found if there’s a parallel here.32500:17:32,979 –> 00:17:34,719Someone will tell me afterwards, I’m sure.32600:17:34,719 –> 00:17:36,160But it was one of these things32700:17:36,160 –> 00:17:39,599where they ran a little bit of film,32800:17:39,599 –> 00:17:40,640and then they stopped it,32900:17:40,640 –> 00:17:43,300and the panel were asked the question what happened next.33000:17:43,300 –> 00:17:45,060It was usually an unusual thing,33100:17:45,060 –> 00:17:48,619like a boxing match, and the frame is frozen,33200:17:48,619 –> 00:17:49,880and the next thing that happened33300:17:49,880 –> 00:17:52,040was that in a freak, one of the boxers33400:17:52,040 –> 00:17:54,260knocked the referee out or something like that.33500:17:54,260 –> 00:17:56,540You have to guess what would happen next.33600:17:57,540 –> 00:17:59,859If we freeze-framed Mark’s gospel33700:17:59,859 –> 00:18:02,000after the announcement of the angel,33800:18:02,000 –> 00:18:04,000what would you think would happen next?33900:18:05,479 –> 00:18:09,839You see, verse 8 takes us completely by surprise, I think.34000:18:09,839 –> 00:18:11,400Look at what it says.34100:18:11,400 –> 00:18:12,660They’re told about the resurrection.34200:18:12,660 –> 00:18:14,599They’re instructed to go and see Peter,34300:18:15,020 –> 00:18:17,040and to pass on the message,34400:18:17,040 –> 00:18:20,500and Mark says, trembling and bewildered,34500:18:21,520 –> 00:18:24,579the women went out and fled from the tomb.34600:18:25,739 –> 00:18:30,739They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.34700:18:32,280 –> 00:18:34,540Now, the other gospels make it clear, of course,34800:18:34,540 –> 00:18:36,579that the women did tell the disciples34900:18:36,579 –> 00:18:38,540about the resurrection later,35000:18:38,540 –> 00:18:40,900but Mark wants us to know35100:18:40,959 –> 00:18:45,699that at first they were silent.35200:18:45,699 –> 00:18:47,199That is, his distinctive witness,35300:18:47,199 –> 00:18:50,140and only Mark tells us this.35400:18:50,140 –> 00:18:51,640Now, let’s take it seriously.35500:18:53,079 –> 00:18:54,400What do we have here?35600:18:55,939 –> 00:18:57,199Christ is risen,35700:18:59,400 –> 00:19:04,400and the people to whom that message is entrusted35800:19:04,619 –> 00:19:09,119are afraid, bewildered, and silent.35900:19:09,920 –> 00:19:14,939You have, if I can paint the picture,36000:19:14,939 –> 00:19:17,699a risen Christ,36100:19:17,699 –> 00:19:21,380and a church that is the people36200:19:21,380 –> 00:19:23,739to whom the message is entrusted,36300:19:24,819 –> 00:19:29,819with no witness, no power, only fear.36400:19:33,219 –> 00:19:37,339That is the distinctive witness of Mark’s gospel.36500:19:37,339 –> 00:19:39,420And I think that God intended it to be so36600:19:39,420 –> 00:19:42,140because it says something very, very powerful.36700:19:43,239 –> 00:19:44,900Matthew, the great commission,36800:19:44,900 –> 00:19:48,199Luke, the power of the Holy Spirit,36900:19:48,199 –> 00:19:52,400John, the call to discipleship,37000:19:52,400 –> 00:19:55,079Mark, the silent church.37100:19:56,959 –> 00:19:59,540The church entrusted with the message,37200:20:00,780 –> 00:20:02,239but without words,37300:20:04,199 –> 00:20:05,599and without power,37400:20:07,420 –> 00:20:08,560inward looking,37500:20:10,020 –> 00:20:12,819gripped by fear.37600:20:15,439 –> 00:20:16,599And that’s why I say that37700:20:16,599 –> 00:20:18,459there is a distinctive contribution37800:20:18,459 –> 00:20:19,900that the ending of Mark’s gospel,37900:20:19,900 –> 00:20:21,540surprising though it is makes38000:20:21,540 –> 00:20:23,939to the total picture of our Lord Jesus Christ38100:20:23,939 –> 00:20:28,939because did not God intend the ending of this gospel38200:20:29,020 –> 00:20:32,319to be the most profound challenge to the Church?38300:20:32,319 –> 00:20:37,319It is possible for the Church38400:20:38,260 –> 00:20:40,439to be evangelical in doctrine,38500:20:41,599 –> 00:20:43,300to believe in the incarnation38600:20:43,300 –> 00:20:46,239and the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ38700:20:46,239 –> 00:20:47,680and the bodily resurrection38800:20:47,680 –> 00:20:52,260and yet to have no effective witness in the World,38900:20:53,920 –> 00:20:57,319no confidence to pursue our God-given calling39000:20:57,359 –> 00:21:02,319and instead to be gripped by fear.39100:21:04,599 –> 00:21:06,439You study the history of the Church39200:21:07,359 –> 00:21:09,920and you’ll see how often that has been the reality.39300:21:09,920 –> 00:21:12,979Remember Mark is writing to Christians in Rome39400:21:13,839 –> 00:21:18,160and that was exactly the danger that they faced.39500:21:20,079 –> 00:21:22,099You read the ending of Mark’s gospel.39600:21:23,900 –> 00:21:26,760People entrusted with the greatest good news39700:21:26,800 –> 00:21:28,079that has ever been heard39800:21:28,079 –> 00:21:31,239and they’re going through life bewildered39900:21:31,239 –> 00:21:33,439and they’re gripped by fear.40000:21:33,439 –> 00:21:36,439That can’t be where it ends.40100:21:37,920 –> 00:21:39,239Precisely.40200:21:40,959 –> 00:21:41,800Precisely.40300:21:44,479 –> 00:21:48,640Some of us have been brought up40400:21:48,640 –> 00:21:50,920believing that Jesus was born,40500:21:50,920 –> 00:21:53,119and Jesus died, and Jesus was raised.40600:21:53,119 –> 00:21:56,760We have always accepted these things.40700:21:59,040 –> 00:22:02,079But if you’re honest, you may say on this Easter morning,40800:22:02,079 –> 00:22:05,640they have not really made very much difference to my life.40900:22:07,520 –> 00:22:09,520And that’s precisely the challenge41000:22:09,520 –> 00:22:10,760and the question I think that41100:22:10,760 –> 00:22:13,380the ending of Mark’s Gospel raises for us.41200:22:13,380 –> 00:22:15,560And I think that we need to face it honestly.41300:22:15,560 –> 00:22:18,880I think God speaks to us powerfully41400:22:19,920 –> 00:22:22,000through the ending of Mark’s Gospel.41500:22:22,099 –> 00:22:23,560You’ve been listening to Open the Bible41600:22:23,560 –> 00:22:24,880with Pastor Colin Smith,41700:22:24,880 –> 00:22:28,560and a message called Jesus Offers Life to His People,41800:22:28,560 –> 00:22:31,859part of our series, The Gospel According to Jesus.41900:22:31,859 –> 00:22:33,800And if you’ve missed any of the series to date42000:22:33,800 –> 00:22:35,719or if you want to go back and listen again,42100:22:35,719 –> 00:22:38,199you can do that by coming online to our website42200:22:38,199 –> 00:22:41,079openthebible.org.uk42300:22:41,079 –> 00:22:43,000or find us as a podcast.42400:22:43,000 –> 00:22:45,800And those are available on all the main podcast sites42500:22:45,800 –> 00:22:48,479by searching for Open the Bible UK42600:22:48,479 –> 00:22:51,439or by following the link from our website.42700:22:51,619 –> 00:22:53,319Don’t forget, while you’re on our website,42800:22:53,319 –> 00:22:55,800you can find open the Bible daily.42900:22:55,800 –> 00:22:58,640And that’s a series of short two to three minute43000:22:58,640 –> 00:23:01,800daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching43100:23:01,800 –> 00:23:04,599and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.43200:23:04,599 –> 00:23:07,880Open the Bible is a listener supported ministry.43300:23:07,880 –> 00:23:11,000We’re able to make the program and podcast available43400:23:11,000 –> 00:23:13,800as well as all the things that happened behind the scenes43500:23:13,800 –> 00:23:16,079because of your financial support.43600:23:16,079 –> 00:23:19,800So thank you for giving to and supporting the ministry.43700:23:19,880 –> 00:23:21,819If that’s something you haven’t done until now43800:23:21,819 –> 00:23:23,400but you’d like to begin,43900:23:23,400 –> 00:23:26,099by setting up a direct debit of five pounds44000:23:26,099 –> 00:23:29,920per month or more or a one off gift of 50 pounds,44100:23:29,920 –> 00:23:32,000you’ll not only be supporting the work,44200:23:32,000 –> 00:23:33,839but also we’d like to say thank you44300:23:33,839 –> 00:23:37,280by sending you a copy of R C Sproul’s book,44400:23:37,280 –> 00:23:41,319The Advent of Glory, 24 Devotions for Christmas.44500:23:41,319 –> 00:23:43,400Colin, some people will be so familiar44600:23:43,400 –> 00:23:46,400with the Christmas story, we feel we know it so well,44700:23:46,400 –> 00:23:49,280so how would this book be beneficial?44800:23:49,400 –> 00:23:52,260The challenge, when we’re familiar with the Christmas story44900:23:52,260 –> 00:23:55,140is that we can very easily take it for granted.45000:23:55,140 –> 00:23:58,000And so what we need to do is to stop45100:23:58,000 –> 00:24:01,760and to think and to wonder and to worship.45200:24:01,760 –> 00:24:04,280This devotional by R C Sproul45300:24:04,280 –> 00:24:07,819is just a marvelous help for being able to do that.45400:24:07,819 –> 00:24:10,660He’s picked out 24 words45500:24:10,660 –> 00:24:12,640that are at the heart of the Christmas story.45600:24:12,640 –> 00:24:14,880I mean, they’re words like virgin and mother45700:24:14,880 –> 00:24:19,439and Bethlehem and King and room and angel and glory.45800:24:19,439 –> 00:24:22,579And he has just four pages on each of these.45900:24:22,579 –> 00:24:27,060There’s insight, so that the story comes fresh to you.46000:24:27,060 –> 00:24:30,739It’s an absolute delight and it will be a gift.46100:24:30,739 –> 00:24:34,579I think for anyone to use in preparation for Christmas.46200:24:34,579 –> 00:24:36,060Well, we’d love to send you a copy46300:24:36,060 –> 00:24:38,680of R C Sproul’s book, the advent of glory46400:24:38,680 –> 00:24:41,380to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit46500:24:41,380 –> 00:24:43,079to the work of open the Bible46600:24:43,079 –> 00:24:45,239for five pounds per month or more46700:24:45,239 –> 00:24:47,640or a one off gift of 50 pounds.46800:24:47,640 –> 00:24:50,119Full details and terms and conditions46900:24:50,119 –> 00:24:53,339are on our website, that’s open the Bible.org.uk47000:24:53,339 –> 00:24:55,040and you can give online.47100:24:55,939 –> 00:24:58,040For open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,47200:24:58,040 –> 00:24:59,719I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able47300:24:59,719 –> 00:25:01,660to join us again next time.47400:25:08,219 –> 00:25:11,319The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ47500:25:11,319 –> 00:25:15,239is good news but it’s an unfinished story.47600:25:15,239 –> 00:25:18,079Find out why next time on Open the Bible.