Tell Peter!

April 7, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

Mark gives details of Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s look over his shoulder has he sets up the story. “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint Jesus’ dead body.” [Mark 16:1 CEB] Notice the details. In Mark’s account, three women brought spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body. They as well as the rest of the world, okay many be not religious leaders, expected to find a body at the tomb.

 

Jesus had died on Friday. Then the Sabbath (Saturday) when nobody could work happened. Now we are told, “Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb.” [Mark 16:2 CEB] The first day of the week was Sunday. It marks the first day of creation, when God created light. The creation of light marked the beginning of what we call “time.”

 

The women might be mocked for forgetting a small detail. “They were saying to each other, “Who’s going to roll the stone away from the entrance for us?” [Mark 16:3 CEB] However, this is more a condemnation of the disciples. Either they were still in bed or they were scared to be near the tomb. It also show as a very important detail. The religious leaders cooked up a story that stated the disciples stole the body. According to the Gospels, they didn’t show up until the tomb was empty.

 

Mark continues with the details, “When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. (And it was a very large stone!)” [Mark 16:4 CEB] Notice two pieces of information. First the stone had been rolled away. Remember, the stone was sealed by Pilate. Breaking the seal would mean death. One detail missing in Marks account, the soldiers charged with guarding the tomb. Probably they were heading back to tell their story.

 

Give the women credit for courage, “Going into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right side; and they were startled.” [Mark 16:5 CEB] If this were a movie, the audience would by yelling “don’t go in there!” Indeed, they were shocked, startled, and scared to find an angel seated on the right side. If this tomb were like the “Garden Tomb” then the angel would have been seated facing the shelf Jesus body was placed. Still it’s a remarkable detail that lends authenticity to the story.

 

Angels are ministers (servants) and messengers. This one stated, “But he said to them, “Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn’t here. Look, here’s the place where they laid him.” [Mark 16:6 CEB] It seems every time an angel shows up, he has to start with “fear not!” Think about it, this is something new God has done. We tend to fear new things, but this is good… really good.

 

The angel then gives the women instructions, “Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” [Mark 16:7 CEB] Basically it sets the tone for the work of the church. It is go and tell. Go means move! Tell means to speak about what just happened. Indeed, the early church in Acts emphasized the message of the resurrection.

 

Notice, Peter is specifically mentioned. He needs to be restored. Maybe at this point he feels excluded from being a disciple. Maybe at this point he is disqualified from being a disciple. This message was personal. “Peter, Jesus wants to talk to you.”

                                                                                                                                                                   

The four scariest words in the English language for a man is “we need to talk.” Talking involves things American men are uncomfortable with… things like thinking, feeling, and communicating.  But straighten a relationship that is going sideways is always a good thing, even if it’s an uncomfortable conversation.

 

Think you have failed, fallen, or forsaken Jesus? Jesus wants to talk to you! Jesus wants to restore you!