13 September 2020 (am) – Mark 15:42 – 16:8

Andy Bruins preaching from Mark on Sunday 13th September 2020.

Mark 15:40-16:8 He was Raised!
What we have in these verses is an account of the burial and the resurrection and Mark identifies a number of key players; a group of women who have been present at the crucifixion and who watch from a distance, seeing where Jesus’ body is finally laid, and a key player in the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea.

Joseph requests the body of Jesus, prepares it for burial and places it in his family tomb.
The women return to the tomb very early on the following Sunday (after the Sabbath) to anoint the body for a proper burial, but they find the tomb empty, except for a “young man” who tells them that Jesus has risen!
This passage is structured in an interesting sandwich that contrasts the distance and the fear of the women with the bold actions of Joseph

Summary: We must decide not just who Jesus is, but what we are going to do with Him. Will we remain simply observers, keeping our distance, afraid to do more… or will we make that bold step of faith and commit ourselves to Jesus?

Q Who are the named characters in these verses, and what do we know about them? (also take a look at Luke 8:1-3, Luke 23:50-51 and John 19:38)

Q How does Mark draw a contrast between the actions of these women (15:40, 16:8) and those of Joseph (15:43)?

Q Read 16:5-7. Who is this “young man” and what is the content of the message he gives these women? Why does he seem to think the women ought to have known Jesus would have risen (v7)?

Q Read v8. Why do you think the women responded this way? Why do you think Mark has drawn our attention to this contrast between the women and Joseph?

Q What does it mean to make the move from knowing to trusting?