He Is Risen

Mark 16:1-8

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. NKJV

These three women went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning of the third day fully expecting to find his dead body. They carried spices with which they were planning to anoint Him. They pondered how they would get into the tomb because they knew the stone covering it was very large and heavy.

It appears that the enemies of Christ remembered His words concerning the resurrection better than His own followers.

Matthew 27: 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." NKJV

The chief priests and the Pharisees thought some of Jesus disciples would carry out a deceptive plan to make it look like He had risen from the dead, but his followers were not even thinking of the possibilities of His resurrection, let alone faking it. They were so overcome with the sadness of His death that they seemingly forgot everything He said on the subject.

Jesus even told them where He would meet with them after His resurrection.

Matt 26:32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. NKJV

This was confirmed by the angel messenger at the tomb.

Mark 16:7 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. NKJV


Matthew records three separate occasions that Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection.

Jesus speaks of His death and resurrection
Matt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." NKJV

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 17:22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. NKJV

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 20:17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." NKJV

Jesus probably spoke to His disciples concerning this subject more than three times but we know that He did at least these three times. The Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in 2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." NKJV

Jesus taught that every truth shall be established or confirmed by two or three witnesses. We most often think this has to refer only to separate people as witnesses of the same incident, but Paul uses this truth in reference to his third visit to the Corinthian Church. He may have been saying that, after hearing the same message of truth three times, it should be established in their hearts.

Since Jesus spoke to His followers in detail about the truth of His death and resurrection three times, or even more, they should have had the same level of expectation as those who opposed Christ. They could have posted a watch at the tomb to wait for something to happen but they were seemingly convinced it was all over.

Jesus appeared to two of His followers on the day of His resurrection.

Luke 24:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV

Cleopas revealed his lack of understanding of how the Christ would redeem Israel. He concluded that Christ’s death was somehow a failure rather than the first phase of a two part victory. The prevailing expectation among Jesus’ followers was that He would defeat those who opposed Him through physical force or power. They lacked perception into the spiritual realm where His real enemies reside. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated all spiritual powers and made it possible for mankind to remove themselves from their influence by entering into the freedom of God’s Kingdom.

How are we doing today? Do we still struggle or wrestle with flesh and blood in an attempt to realize the promised victory of His resurrection. Due to a lack of perception into the spiritual realm we often launch an attack against what we see with our natural eyes rather than the spiritual forces that are manipulating things behind the scenes.

2 Corinthians 13:3 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. NKJV

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV

Because of His resurrection we have hope of our own resurrection from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. NKJV

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.NKJV