April 3, 2021
Dear Road Church Friends,
Easter Greeting to all of you.
The Scripture reading for tomorrow’s Easter service is Mark 16:1-8. The title of the Easter message is, “He Goes Ahead of You to Galilee.”
Mark’s Gospel is the earliest account of Jesus’ resurrection. His Gospel is only half the length of the other three. Here’s why:
1. Mark’s emphasis is on Jesus as a man of action, so he doesn’t record much of Jesus’ teaching.
2. There are no stories of Jesus’ birth. Jesus first appears on the scene as an adult.
3. And, perhaps most surprising of all, in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ resurrection is announced but Jesus does not appear to his disciples. The story ends when an angel says, Go tell his disciples that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you. But the women fled from the tomb, seized by terror and amazement; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
It’s important to understand that in the oldest copies of Mark, from the third century, the last chapter ended at verse 8. In our Bibles, a footnote explains that verses 9-20 were added later to make Mark harmonize with the other Gospels. But that longer ending unfortunately disguises what Mark wanted to say to the Christians in his church. It’s a great and timely message that I want to share with you tomorrow.
Mark 16:1-8
1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and 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 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 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 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
EASTER FAITH IS ITS OWN REWARD
Give us all such a vision of Christ’s risen glory,
That we may trust his power, and know that nothing can separate us,
From thy loving purposes or finally defeat thy will.
So may we rise up from all our distress and despair,
And walk with Christ, the companion of our souls.
To whatever lies in store for us, and find at last that faith is its own reward.
by Leslie Weatherhead
Blessings to you all
Pastor Norm
Road Church EASTER Service on You Tube: https://youtu.be/jtyuSN9fPwU