Last week’s lesson left us at the tomb. Jesus was dead and buried. It was Friday, but Sunday was coming. The disciples that had so faithfully followed Him for three years had all deserted Him. Judas had betrayed Him to those who crucified Him. Peter, who had vowed to die with Jesus (Matthew 26:35), Peter who had drawn a sword and cut off a man’s ear when Jesus was arrested (John 18:10), has now denied Christ three times (John 18:15-27). There is no direct evidence that Peter was even present at the crucifixion. However, Luke records, “When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight [the crucifixion] saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him . . . stood at a distance, watching these things” (23:48-49). If he was there, he stood at a distance, in fear. None of the disciples even attended to Jesus’ body or attended his burial; just a few women and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were there as Jesus was placed in the tomb (John 19; Mark 15). In this moment it seemed all was lost, for all intents and purposes it seemed evil had prevailed, but it was only Friday, Sunday was coming.
And this week we will look at what happened on Sunday. Scripture does not give us a date or exact time of the year, but we do know the day and what is discovered on this day is the reason why we meet and worship on the first day of the week, every week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). The resurrection account is also found in Matthew 28:1–8, Luke 24:1–8, and John 20:1-23. This Sunday we will look at the resurrection. We will draw from all four gospel accounts but our focus will be on Mark 16:1-8.
Praying everyone has a blessed week,
In Christ,
Gary T.