1 00:00:00,660 –> 00:00:06,220 Please open your Bible then at Mark’s gospel and chapter sixteen. 2 00:00:06,220 –> 00:00:16,639 And today we come to the final chapter of the gospel, where we learn about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 3 00:00:16,639 –> 00:00:25,260 And the gospel is good news. That is what the word gospel means, of course, because Jesus has conquered death. 4 00:00:25,260 –> 00:00:34,520 He is alive today and he invites us to draw near to him, and to receive the mercy and the grace that he is able to give to us, 5 00:00:34,520 –> 00:00:42,660 the strength that he is able to give to us for our lives, to live a life that is pleasing to God. 6 00:00:42,660 –> 00:00:49,680 Now, before we come to the message of the resurrection this morning, if you’ve got your Bible open at Mark chapter sixteen, 7 00:00:49,680 –> 00:00:59,340 I want us to notice that we are faced with a problem that comes right at the end of Mark’s gospel, and the problem is simply this. 8 00:00:59,340 –> 00:01:04,419 Where does Mark’s gospel end? 9 00:01:04,419 –> 00:01:10,559 If you have the pew Bible, that the church supplies, that is the new international version, 10 00:01:10,559 –> 00:01:17,739 notice that at the end of verse eight and before verse nine, you have these words, 11 00:01:17,739 –> 00:01:31,540 The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16, verses nine through 20. 12 00:01:32,139 –> 00:01:39,599 Now if Mark’s gospel ends at Mark 16 in verse eight, as I believe it did, 13 00:01:39,599 –> 00:01:48,220 let’s look at what we’ve got. Number one, the women visit the tomb and they find 14 00:01:48,220 –> 00:01:55,239 that the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty. Number two, the angel tells the 15 00:01:55,480 –> 00:02:02,459 women what happened. Verse 6, Jesus has risen and verse 7, they are to go and 16 00:02:02,459 –> 00:02:06,959 they are to tell the disciples that they can meet up with Jesus who has gone 17 00:02:06,959 –> 00:02:15,199 ahead of them into Galilee. Third, the women are overwhelmed with fear, they say 18 00:02:15,199 –> 00:02:22,360 nothing to anyone. Verse 8, trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled 19 00:02:22,360 –> 00:02:30,259 from the tomb, they said nothing to anyone because they were afraid. You read 20 00:02:30,259 –> 00:02:33,839 verse 8, you say, well that’s the end of the gospel? 21 00:02:33,839 –> 00:02:44,100 Come on can’t be! Put this alongside the other Gospels, Matthew, the Great 22 00:02:44,860 –> 00:02:52,820 Commission, go into all the world, make disciples, baptize them in the name of 23 00:02:52,820 –> 00:02:56,899 the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I’ve 24 00:02:56,899 –> 00:03:04,880 commanded you, and lo, I will be with you always. Put it alongside Luke, the promise 25 00:03:04,880 –> 00:03:11,759 of the Holy Spirit, and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am going to send 26 00:03:11,759 –> 00:03:17,380 you what my Father has promised you. But stay in the city until you are clothed 27 00:03:17,380 –> 00:03:22,399 with power from on high.” And then he was taken up into heaven, out of their sight. 28 00:03:22,399 –> 00:03:30,759 That sounds like an ending to me. John, that beautiful scene where John records 29 00:03:30,759 –> 00:03:36,179 that Peter meets up with Jesus at Galilee, and after a fishing expedition, 30 00:03:36,179 –> 00:03:42,520 Jesus restores Peter. Peter do you love me? You know that I love you, feed my 31 00:03:42,520 –> 00:03:49,119 sheep. Peter do you love me? You know, Lord, that I love you, feed my sheep. Peter do 32 00:03:49,119 –> 00:03:55,740 you love me? Lord, you know that I love you, feed my sheep. And after this, Jesus 33 00:03:55,740 –> 00:04:03,240 said to them all, follow me. And then Mark, trembling and bewildered, the women 34 00:04:03,279 –> 00:04:06,800 went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were 35 00:04:06,800 –> 00:04:14,240 afraid.” I can see why some folks in the early church thought that Mark’s gospel 36 00:04:14,240 –> 00:04:22,440 needed a better ending than that. Can’t you see that? If Mark’s gospel ended at 37 00:04:22,440 –> 00:04:29,839 verse 8, there are no resurrection appearances, no Great Commission, no 38 00:04:29,839 –> 00:04:37,880 ascension into heaven. If indeed Mark’s gospel ends at verse 8, it kind of looks 39 00:04:37,880 –> 00:04:44,320 like an unfinished story. So it is not surprising that folks, at some point 40 00:04:44,320 –> 00:04:50,839 later we do not know when, felt that they had to spice the ending up by adding 41 00:04:50,839 –> 00:04:55,019 things that were already known from the other gospels. And you will find if you 42 00:04:55,019 –> 00:04:58,799 read the longer ending that it includes three resurrection appearances, the Great 43 00:04:58,899 –> 00:05:05,760 Commission, and an account of the ascension. So which way are we to go? The 44 00:05:05,760 –> 00:05:13,260 unfinished story or the longer ending? Now I have to say to you this is not 45 00:05:13,260 –> 00:05:17,260 simply a question of preference. You know it’s not like Burger King with 46 00:05:17,260 –> 00:05:21,739 their marvelous slogan, you know, have it your way. You know, how would you like 47 00:05:21,739 –> 00:05:26,839 your Bible, sir? Would you like it with the unfinished story or would you 48 00:05:26,920 –> 00:05:32,260 personally prefer the longer ending? Have it your way. No it’s not like that. There 49 00:05:32,260 –> 00:05:39,920 really is only one question here, and it’s this. What did Mark write, or to put 50 00:05:39,920 –> 00:05:45,440 it another way, where did Mark finish? And scholars who have studied the 51 00:05:45,440 –> 00:05:51,619 manuscripts and have also studied very carefully the grammar and the style of 52 00:05:51,739 –> 00:05:57,380 of these last 12 verses, verses 9-20, have come to the clear and repeated 53 00:05:57,380 –> 00:06:04,799 conclusion that Mark did indeed end at verse 8. And that verse 9-20 that 54 00:06:04,799 –> 00:06:08,220 these verses were added later. In other words that they were not written by Mark 55 00:06:08,220 –> 00:06:11,579 and that they are therefore not part of the gospel and that the New 56 00:06:11,579 –> 00:06:14,640 International Version and many other versions of the Bible is absolutely 57 00:06:14,640 –> 00:06:19,700 right in separating them off and indicating to us that this was not part 58 00:06:19,899 –> 00:06:25,339 of what Mark originally wrote. So I’m convinced, and we can be very confident, 59 00:06:25,339 –> 00:06:34,859 that Mark ended his gospel at verse 8 and that God intended it to be so. And 60 00:06:34,859 –> 00:06:42,579 that’s the point. I want us to see this morning that God has something to say to 61 00:06:42,579 –> 00:06:49,040 us about the resurrection from this gospel that is distinct from what we 62 00:06:49,079 –> 00:06:51,480 find in the other three. God, after all, 63 00:06:51,480 –> 00:06:57,320 wonderfully has given us four gospels, and each one gives us a distinct witness 64 00:06:57,320 –> 00:07:02,739 to our Lord Jesus Christ. And there is something that God wants us to know from 65 00:07:02,739 –> 00:07:08,279 the ending of this gospel that you will not find in the others, and that is what 66 00:07:08,279 –> 00:07:14,600 I want us to grasp together today. We’re going to focus on three things. The 67 00:07:14,600 –> 00:07:20,480 first is the explanation that the angel gives to the women with regard to the 68 00:07:20,480 –> 00:07:27,079 resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you focus with me on verses 5 and 6. Mark 69 00:07:27,079 –> 00:07:33,320 says that the women who came to the tombs saw a young man dressed in a white 70 00:07:33,320 –> 00:07:40,359 robe, verse 5. Now Matthew tells us in chapter 28 and verse 5 that they saw an 71 00:07:40,359 –> 00:07:46,679 angel. So what we have here is Mark describing the appearance. The one who 72 00:07:46,679 –> 00:07:51,040 was there looked like a young man dressed in a white robe, 73 00:07:51,040 –> 00:07:56,880 Matthew is describing the identity. Clearly this was an angel who appeared 74 00:07:56,880 –> 00:08:03,660 in the tomb, and the angel said, verse 6, don’t be alarmed. You are looking for 75 00:08:03,660 –> 00:08:12,239 Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place 76 00:08:12,239 –> 00:08:21,260 where they laid him. I want you to notice that it is an angel from heaven who 77 00:08:21,260 –> 00:08:26,140 tells the women that Jesus is risen. Have you noticed that before? 78 00:08:26,140 –> 00:08:33,020 It was not that Mary got into the tomb, saw that it was empty, turned around to 79 00:08:33,020 –> 00:08:39,119 Salome and said, you know Salome he must have risen from the dead. That thought 80 00:08:39,119 –> 00:08:48,700 did not even occur to the women. It was the angel who told them. Now that is very 81 00:08:48,700 –> 00:08:53,780 important because some people have the idea that faith is about creating your 82 00:08:53,780 –> 00:08:58,640 own reality. Their suggestion is, you know, that the women and later the 83 00:08:59,260 –> 00:09:03,739 disciples had such an intense desire that Jesus should be with them, that they 84 00:09:03,739 –> 00:09:07,919 kind of created this reality in their own minds, and that if you are inclined 85 00:09:07,919 –> 00:09:12,440 to be a person of faith, then you can also create this reality within your own 86 00:09:12,440 –> 00:09:17,840 mind. But there is no objective reality to correspond to a Jesus who is risen 87 00:09:17,840 –> 00:09:23,679 from the dead. Well what Mark tells us here, makes such a suggestion impossible. 88 00:09:23,719 –> 00:09:30,640 The women went to the tomb, he says, to anoint the body of Jesus. Their minds 89 00:09:30,640 –> 00:09:34,340 were not filled with thoughts of him being alive but filled with thoughts of 90 00:09:34,340 –> 00:09:40,239 him being dead. That’s why they went. The issue that dominated their mind, Mark 91 00:09:40,239 –> 00:09:45,580 tells us on the journey, was who would move away the stone. And even when they 92 00:09:45,580 –> 00:09:49,960 find that the tomb is empty, the thought that Jesus is risen does not occur to 93 00:09:49,960 –> 00:09:57,140 them, they have to be told. And even after they are told by the angel they 94 00:09:57,140 –> 00:10:03,500 are still left bewildered, verse eight, terrified and silent. So there is 95 00:10:03,500 –> 00:10:09,320 absolutely no basis whatsoever here from the evidence that Mark gives to us that 96 00:10:09,320 –> 00:10:14,719 these women were somehow creating their own reality. I tell you that is very 97 00:10:14,940 –> 00:10:22,440 important because I wish, I really wish that I could have one dollar for every 98 00:10:22,440 –> 00:10:28,739 person who has heard the gospel and then said to the person who told them, well 99 00:10:28,739 –> 00:10:34,960 that’s just your interpretation. I tell you I would be a multimillionaire if I 100 00:10:34,960 –> 00:10:41,179 had one dollar for every person who has ever said that. That’s just your 101 00:10:41,359 –> 00:10:48,700 interpretation. Now listen, the resurrection was not the women’s 102 00:10:48,700 –> 00:10:59,140 interpretation. The resurrection is not a believer’s interpretation. The 103 00:10:59,140 –> 00:11:07,859 resurrection is God’s revelation, through an angel sent from heaven, to explain 104 00:11:07,859 –> 00:11:16,200 what the women otherwise would not have guessed nor comprehended. Christian 105 00:11:16,200 –> 00:11:23,500 faith does not hang on personal interpretations. Christian faith hangs on 106 00:11:23,500 –> 00:11:32,260 God’s explanation of what God has done. A Christian is a person who believes 107 00:11:32,340 –> 00:11:38,739 God’s explanation of what God has done. You see, we need not only what God has 108 00:11:38,739 –> 00:11:42,859 done but the explanation. God’s explanation of what he has done. 109 00:11:42,859 –> 00:11:48,539 Otherwise we can never come to faith. Think of it, if all we had at Christmas 110 00:11:48,539 –> 00:11:55,700 was the story of a baby who was born to a virgin we would be stretching our 111 00:11:55,700 –> 00:11:59,940 heads forever trying to work out what the significance of this was. What do we 112 00:11:59,940 –> 00:12:06,539 need? That God should send someone from heaven to explain to us that this is the 113 00:12:06,539 –> 00:12:14,739 Son of God. That this Jesus is God with us, God in the flesh. If all we had on 114 00:12:14,739 –> 00:12:19,340 Good Friday was the record that Jesus died on the cross, we would never know 115 00:12:19,340 –> 00:12:23,900 what this means. We could never understand its significance. It takes God 116 00:12:23,900 –> 00:12:29,760 to give us the explanation. And what is it? God says, this Jesus is dying for your 117 00:12:29,799 –> 00:12:35,219 sins. Christian faith rests on that. And if all we had at Easter was the empty 118 00:12:35,340 –> 00:12:39,479 tomb, we would be… And we were left to our own interpretation, we would never 119 00:12:39,479 –> 00:12:43,400 know what has happened. So God gives us the explanation. This is what you need to 120 00:12:43,400 –> 00:12:51,900 understand. This Jesus who was crucified is risen from the dead. See? The birth, 121 00:12:51,900 –> 00:12:55,520 and the death, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are events outside 122 00:12:55,520 –> 00:12:59,900 of our experience. We have no categories for interpreting them unless God should 123 00:12:59,900 –> 00:13:10,400 explain to us what they mean. God gives us the interpretation. God tells 124 00:13:10,400 –> 00:13:16,719 us what happened. And what that means for us is this, that Christian faith does 125 00:13:16,719 –> 00:13:22,880 not rest on our feelings, it doesn’t rest in our insights, it doesn’t rest 126 00:13:23,020 –> 00:13:30,479 on our interpretations. Christian faith rests on God’s explanation of his own 127 00:13:30,479 –> 00:13:40,239 actions revealed to us and recorded for us in the Scriptures. He has risen. Who 128 00:13:40,239 –> 00:13:53,099 says so? God says so. And you can stake your life and your eternity on that. Now 129 00:13:53,099 –> 00:14:03,320 don’t you just feel thankful today that the God of the Bible speaks? That the God 130 00:14:03,320 –> 00:14:08,719 of the Bible makes himself known so that we may know him? That the God of the 131 00:14:09,080 –> 00:14:15,700 Bible reveals the truth so that we may come to him? I tell you, if you don’t 132 00:14:15,700 –> 00:14:20,659 believe in a God who speaks, you don’t believe in the God of the Bible. The God 133 00:14:20,659 –> 00:14:26,260 of the Bible makes himself known to Moses and makes himself known in Jesus 134 00:14:26,260 –> 00:14:31,539 Christ, and it is because he reveals because he makes himself known because he 135 00:14:31,539 –> 00:14:39,239 is known that we have a basis for faith and you can stake your life and your 136 00:14:39,239 –> 00:14:47,059 eternity on God’s Word explaining God’s action in Jesus Christ the one born is 137 00:14:47,059 –> 00:14:51,640 the Son of God and when he died he died for your sins and when the tomb was 138 00:14:51,640 –> 00:15:00,500 empty the reason was he has risen from the dead. Not our interpretation God’s 139 00:15:00,500 –> 00:15:08,380 explanation his Word on which you can state your life and your eternity that’s 140 00:15:08,380 –> 00:15:14,960 the first thing here’s the second Mark gives us a fascinating description of 141 00:15:14,960 –> 00:15:22,099 what happened next used to enjoy a sort of Sports Quiz Program that was over in 142 00:15:22,099 –> 00:15:26,179 the UK I’ve not yet found if there’s a parallel here someone will tell me 143 00:15:26,179 –> 00:15:30,020 afterwards I’m sure but it was one of these things where you ran that they 144 00:15:30,099 –> 00:15:34,900 ran a little bit of film and then they stopped it and the panel were asked the 145 00:15:34,900 –> 00:15:38,219 question what happened next and it was usually an unusual thing you know like a 146 00:15:38,219 –> 00:15:43,280 boxing match and the frame is frozen and the next thing that happened was that in 147 00:15:43,280 –> 00:15:46,419 a freak you know one of the boxers knocked the referee out or something 148 00:15:46,419 –> 00:15:50,780 like that you you had to guess what would happen next you see well if we 149 00:15:50,780 –> 00:15:55,299 freeze-framed Mark’s Gospel after the announcement of the angel what would you 150 00:15:55,299 –> 00:16:01,940 think would happen next you see verse 8 takes us completely by surprise I think 151 00:16:01,940 –> 00:16:06,580 look at what it says they’re told about the resurrection there instructed to go 152 00:16:06,580 –> 00:16:12,539 and see Peter and to pass on the message and and Mark says trembling and 153 00:16:12,539 –> 00:16:19,580 bewildered the women went out and fled from the tomb they said nothing to 154 00:16:19,739 –> 00:16:27,239 anyone because they were afraid now the other gospels make it clear of course 155 00:16:27,239 –> 00:16:32,960 that the women did tell the disciples about the resurrection later but Mark 156 00:16:32,960 –> 00:16:39,940 wants us to know that at first they were silent that is his distinctive witness 157 00:16:39,940 –> 00:16:46,599 and only Mark tells us this let’s take it seriously what do we have 158 00:16:46,599 –> 00:16:57,119 here Christ is risen and the people to whom that message is entrusted are 159 00:16:57,119 –> 00:17:09,099 afraid bewildered and silent you have if I can paint the picture a risen Christ 160 00:17:09,560 –> 00:17:18,839 and Church that is the people to whom the message is entrusted with no 161 00:17:18,839 –> 00:17:30,420 witness no power only fear that is the distinctive witness of Mark’s gospel and 162 00:17:30,420 –> 00:17:34,260 I think that God intended it to be so because it says something very very 163 00:17:34,260 –> 00:17:41,459 powerful Matthew the Great Commission Luke the power of the Holy Spirit John 164 00:17:41,459 –> 00:17:51,359 the call to discipleship Mark the silent Church the church entrusted with the 165 00:17:51,359 –> 00:18:07,640 message but without words and without power inward-looking gripped by fear 166 00:18:09,219 –> 00:18:12,880 that’s why I say that there is a distinctive contribution that the ending 167 00:18:12,880 –> 00:18:16,920 of Mark’s Gospel surprising though it is makes to the total picture of Our Lord 168 00:18:16,939 –> 00:18:23,420 Jesus Christ because did not God intend the ending of this gospel to be the most 169 00:18:23,420 –> 00:18:33,400 profound challenge to the church it is possible for the church to be 170 00:18:33,400 –> 00:18:39,280 evangelical in doctrine to believe in the Incarnation and the substitutionary 171 00:18:39,280 –> 00:18:43,780 Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ and the bodily Resurrection and yet to have 172 00:18:43,859 –> 00:18:51,540 no effective witness in the world no confidence to pursue our God-given 173 00:18:51,540 –> 00:19:01,239 calling and instead to be gripped by fear you study the history of the church 174 00:19:01,239 –> 00:19:05,939 and you’ll see how often that has been the reality and remember Mark is writing 175 00:19:05,979 –> 00:19:14,920 to Christians in Rome and that was exactly the danger that they faced you 176 00:19:14,920 –> 00:19:21,900 read the ending of Mark’s gospel people in trusted with the greatest good news 177 00:19:21,900 –> 00:19:27,199 that has ever been heard and they’re going through life bewildered and their 178 00:19:27,199 –> 00:19:42,500 gripped by fear that can’t be where it ends precisely precisely risen Christ 179 00:19:42,500 –> 00:19:51,300 and those trusted with the news without witness and new part without power that 180 00:19:51,599 –> 00:19:58,140 not the kind of Church we want to be is it that is not the kind of Christianity 181 00:19:58,140 –> 00:20:03,979 you want for yourself is it that is not the kind of Christianity that we want 182 00:20:03,979 –> 00:20:15,260 for our children is it some of us have been brought up believing that Jesus was 183 00:20:15,260 –> 00:20:20,900 born and Jesus died and Jesus was raised we have always accepted these things 184 00:20:21,079 –> 00:20:28,099 but if you’re honest you may say on this Easter morning they have not really made 185 00:20:28,099 –> 00:20:35,060 very much difference to my life and that’s precisely the challenge and the 186 00:20:35,060 –> 00:20:39,300 question I think that the ending of Mark’s gospel raises for us and I think 187 00:20:39,300 –> 00:20:45,719 that we need to face it honestly I think God speaks to us powerfully through the 188 00:20:46,520 –> 00:20:53,119 Maybe you’re a person who believes in the risen Lord Jesus Christ that is why 189 00:20:53,119 –> 00:20:55,520 you’re here joyfully singing the hymns today 190 00:20:55,520 –> 00:21:01,640 but the truth is that your life is dominated by fear there is no witness 191 00:21:01,640 –> 00:21:08,300 that is coming from you there is no power that has yet changed your life it 192 00:21:08,300 –> 00:21:14,560 is a belief and it kind of sits there but it has not yet brought change it has 193 00:21:14,599 –> 00:21:20,000 not brought a new dynamic it has not moved you in a direction as a real 194 00:21:20,000 –> 00:21:29,800 follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and I think as you look into Mark chapter 16 195 00:21:29,800 –> 00:21:35,520 in verse 8 you’re just looking into the mirror haven’t you and I think all of us 196 00:21:35,520 –> 00:21:39,520 seeing what is here would say but this isn’t where we want to be it’s not where 197 00:21:39,520 –> 00:21:42,900 we want to be as a church it’s not what any of us wants to be as individuals 198 00:21:43,280 –> 00:21:47,060 this is not where we want to be this is unfinished there’s something wrong we 199 00:21:47,060 –> 00:21:58,619 need to move from this we can’t end here so I want you to see in verse 7 200 00:21:58,619 –> 00:22:02,819 where mark points us and it’s very wonderful and very significant because 201 00:22:02,819 –> 00:22:07,339 not only does Mark give us the explanation of the angel a description 202 00:22:07,479 –> 00:22:12,920 of what happened next but he gives to us an open-ended invitation that is 203 00:22:12,920 –> 00:22:19,479 wonderfully expressed in verse 7 Angel says to the women go and tell his 204 00:22:19,479 –> 00:22:26,359 disciples in Peter he is going ahead of you into Galilee and there you will see 205 00:22:26,359 –> 00:22:35,380 him just as he has told you now this is a great invitation that the women are to 206 00:22:35,479 –> 00:22:42,699 to pass on to the disciples in the first case the risen Lord Jesus Christ wants 207 00:22:42,699 –> 00:22:47,680 to meet you that’s the message there to say to the disciples the risen Lord 208 00:22:47,680 –> 00:22:52,680 Jesus wants to meet you he’s gone ahead of you you will meet him if you go to 209 00:22:52,680 –> 00:22:59,160 Galilee you will see him there now notice the significance here the 210 00:22:59,160 –> 00:23:04,180 disciples must go to Galilee there is something that the disciples must do 211 00:23:04,180 –> 00:23:10,400 there is an initiative that the disciples must take if they are to 212 00:23:10,400 –> 00:23:18,979 encounter meat the risen Lord Jesus Christ now if you want to know what 213 00:23:18,979 –> 00:23:23,280 happened in Galilee you can read the end of John’s gospel because John tells us 214 00:23:23,280 –> 00:23:27,400 about what happened when the disciples went to Galilee because they did follow 215 00:23:27,400 –> 00:23:31,540 through on the message they eventually got from the women and that was where 216 00:23:31,819 –> 00:23:37,180 was wonderfully restored wonderfully forgiven and wonderfully recommissioned 217 00:23:37,180 –> 00:23:44,459 by our risen Lord Jesus Christ but mark leaves us hanging mark doesn’t tell us 218 00:23:44,459 –> 00:23:53,319 that story and again I’m convinced that that is what God intended Mark simply 219 00:23:53,319 –> 00:24:02,760 leaves the invitation open because you see it’s not simply an invitation for 220 00:24:02,760 –> 00:24:09,280 the disciples it is also an invitation for us not to go to Galilee because he 221 00:24:09,280 –> 00:24:15,640 is not there now but to draw near to him where he is now 222 00:24:15,640 –> 00:24:21,739 which is the Bible says seated at the right hand of the Father but I want you 223 00:24:21,819 –> 00:24:25,500 to think with me for just a moment about the issues that the disciples must have 224 00:24:25,500 –> 00:24:30,640 faced in pondering this question should we go to Galilee of course there were 225 00:24:30,640 –> 00:24:34,180 other resurrection appearances recorded in the other Gospels but I want us to 226 00:24:34,180 –> 00:24:41,040 think about the distinctive witness of Mark this morning put yourself in the 227 00:24:41,040 –> 00:24:49,420 shoes of Peter do I go to Galilee is he there do I 228 00:24:49,420 –> 00:24:56,719 really believe he’s there in several days journey on foot to Galilee if 229 00:24:56,719 –> 00:25:02,739 you’re gonna go to Galilee you’ve got to believe he’s there and then there’s 230 00:25:02,739 –> 00:25:07,859 another question I think if you put yourself in Peter’s shoes do I really 231 00:25:07,859 –> 00:25:13,000 want to meet him I mean he knows everything about me and he certainly 232 00:25:13,000 –> 00:25:18,359 heard me cursing and denying it that I ever knew him I feel kind of wretched 233 00:25:18,400 –> 00:25:22,739 about some of the things I’ve done out I’m not sure I really belong very close 234 00:25:22,739 –> 00:25:28,420 to this Jesus do I really want to meet him anyway do you know these are exactly 235 00:25:28,420 –> 00:25:35,180 the same issues that you will face as you ponder the great invitation to come 236 00:25:35,180 –> 00:25:43,640 in faith and in repentance to the risen Lord Jesus Christ today the only way 237 00:25:43,699 –> 00:25:48,359 that you can come to him is to come in faith which is what it took Peter to 238 00:25:48,359 –> 00:25:54,979 launch out on that journey to Galilee and the only way that you can come to 239 00:25:54,979 –> 00:26:00,439 him is to come to him in repentance that is knowing that you have not lived the 240 00:26:00,439 –> 00:26:06,219 life that he called you to live but realizing that it is far better to come 241 00:26:06,219 –> 00:26:11,199 and to receive his mercy and his grace than simply to remain at a distance from 242 00:26:11,280 –> 00:26:16,119 him because you like the courage to come 243 00:26:16,500 –> 00:26:21,640 so mark gives to us this very very distinctive ending and I think it speaks 244 00:26:21,640 –> 00:26:27,359 to us very very powerfully today Christian faith isn’t a matter of 245 00:26:27,359 –> 00:26:32,579 personal interpretation it rests on God’s revelation Jesus has risen who 246 00:26:32,579 –> 00:26:38,560 says so God says there are many people who have heard this message who have 247 00:26:38,560 –> 00:26:45,540 never been changed by it they somehow have gone through life still gripped by 248 00:26:45,540 –> 00:26:52,619 fear still somewhat bewildered about what life is all about and none of us 249 00:26:52,619 –> 00:26:58,839 wants to stay there but then mark makes it clear there’s this great invitation 250 00:26:58,839 –> 00:27:05,300 Christ wants to meet with those who will come to him and you can come to him 251 00:27:06,199 –> 00:27:10,319 if you’re going to do that you’re gonna have to believe that he’s there as you 252 00:27:10,319 –> 00:27:14,839 draw near to him and faith and in prayer you’re gonna have to gather the courage 253 00:27:14,839 –> 00:27:18,959 to draw near to him knowing that you have not lived a life that is pleasing 254 00:27:18,959 –> 00:27:24,500 or honoring to him that is what it’s like for all of us to draw near to him 255 00:27:24,500 –> 00:27:33,939 to trust him for grace and mercy forgiveness power a new life which is 256 00:27:34,119 –> 00:27:41,239 what comes as his gift to all who draw near to him one illustration and then 257 00:27:41,239 –> 00:27:47,699 we’re through I want you to imagine with me for a moment a family living in 258 00:27:47,699 –> 00:27:56,380 abject poverty and picture it they sleep in a rough shelter where the roof leaks 259 00:27:56,380 –> 00:28:02,819 they have no money they scavenge for food and the kids clothes are in 260 00:28:02,839 –> 00:28:15,420 tatters a distant uncle dies and leaves them ten million dollars that is good 261 00:28:15,420 –> 00:28:26,579 news but the ten million dollars will not change their lives think about it 262 00:28:27,079 –> 00:28:35,839 it is what the ten million dollars can do that will change their lives the ten 263 00:28:35,839 –> 00:28:40,619 million dollars can buy them a home with central heating and air conditioning and 264 00:28:40,619 –> 00:28:45,380 a bedroom for each of the kids the ten million dollars can buy a new wardrobe 265 00:28:45,380 –> 00:28:49,699 for each of the children the ten million dollars can give them a lifetime supply 266 00:28:49,699 –> 00:28:57,839 of the finest pizza or whatever else they chose to eat but suppose the ten 267 00:28:57,839 –> 00:29:05,739 million dollars remained in the bank and was never used never drawn if that 268 00:29:05,739 –> 00:29:11,920 should happen the kids would be in the same clothes the family under the same 269 00:29:11,959 –> 00:29:19,859 leaking roof and with ten million dollars unused in the bank that could 270 00:29:19,859 –> 00:29:26,199 have changed their lives that would be tragic wouldn’t it be tragic 271 00:29:26,739 –> 00:29:32,920 the man who hears the good news about the ten million dollars must go to the 272 00:29:32,920 –> 00:29:43,859 bank he must draw on what has been given to him he must realize the value of this 273 00:29:43,859 –> 00:29:48,439 priceless gift that has been accomplished and has been given and he 274 00:29:48,439 –> 00:29:53,140 must use it he must use it for the purpose for which it has been given 275 00:29:53,140 –> 00:29:57,719 which is to change his life and the lives of others because there is enough 276 00:29:57,880 –> 00:30:04,479 here not only for one family but for many Jesus Christ has come into the 277 00:30:04,479 –> 00:30:12,560 world he died for our sins he rose to bring us to everlasting life he offers 278 00:30:12,560 –> 00:30:19,640 forgiveness and new life by the power of his Holy Spirit and many of us have 279 00:30:19,839 –> 00:30:28,020 heard this but the truth is it has not yet changed your life today I want just 280 00:30:28,020 –> 00:30:31,760 to end with this invitation that really is the point at the end of Mark’s 281 00:30:31,760 –> 00:30:37,400 gospel this risen Christ wants you to come to him he’s come to you now you 282 00:30:37,400 –> 00:30:44,699 must come to him you must draw on all that he has accomplished for you and all 283 00:30:44,699 –> 00:30:53,459 that he offers to you you come to him in faith you come to him in repentance and 284 00:30:53,459 –> 00:30:59,040 then you receive to the full all the grace and mercy and life and strength 285 00:30:59,040 –> 00:31:08,219 and power that flows to you from Christ crucified and risen for you 286 00:31:08,280 –> 00:31:18,079 Mark’s gospels an unfinished story the ending of it will be written in your 287 00:31:18,079 –> 00:31:32,920 life let’s pray together to invite those who feel bewildered in life 288 00:31:32,920 –> 00:31:46,219 facing many fears many doubts I want to invite you to take the step that Peter 289 00:31:46,219 –> 00:31:53,180 and the others took when they made that journey to Galilee want you to draw 290 00:31:53,180 –> 00:31:58,859 near to Jesus Christ at the right hand of the father because you believe that 291 00:31:58,859 –> 00:32:08,000 He is there and because you really want to draw near to him for Jesus all that 292 00:32:08,000 –> 00:32:13,199 you have accomplished in your death and resurrection is sufficient to bring 293 00:32:13,199 –> 00:32:22,319 every person in the gym and every person in the sanctuary into everlasting life 294 00:32:22,319 –> 00:32:26,579 and joy forever and forever 295 00:32:28,920 –> 00:32:35,180 I pray today that those who have not yet drawn on what you have accomplished and 296 00:32:35,180 –> 00:32:42,680 given in Jesus Christ may draw near in faith and repentance today that the 297 00:32:42,680 –> 00:32:49,099 bewildered ending of Mark’s gospel may not mark the end of our lives but that 298 00:32:49,099 –> 00:32:54,619 we may be those who respond with the disciples to the great invitation and 299 00:32:54,699 –> 00:33:01,859 therefore share the everlasting life that Christ offers in his presence 300 00:33:01,859 –> 00:33:08,099 forever and forever and as we pray in Jesus name 301 00:33:08,099 –> 00:33:10,140 amen