Thought for the Week - 9th April
Pastor Gareth WatkinsMARK 16: 1-11
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
On Good Friday we considered Christ.
We were silent before God.
We meditated and sang.
We felt His presence as if He was standing amongst us.
However, today is the day we feel alive with Christ on Resurrection Sunday. Jesus is actually alive!
If Jesus is not risen then Jesus lived a lie, He lived in vain, there is no victory over death – our sins are not washed away and our faith is useless. Also, consider: if Jesus is not alive, then all the dead believers who have gone before us are actually lost.
So today, like millions of Christians, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Jesus rising from the tomb revealed Himself to the disciples, to 500, but also to His mother and Mary Magdalene from whom He had cast 7 demons.
He was the first fruit of those who were to be raised following death under the new covenant with God.
The risen Jesus revealed Himself personally to Thomas and said “reach in touch my hands and my side”. Thomas replied “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
Is this your response when Jesus comes to you?
Amen