THE BEST NEWS EVER!

“‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them.  ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has been resurrected!   He is not here!  See the place where they put Him.’” (Mark 16:6 HCSB)

Can you imagine the horror Paul Hebert and his wife felt when it was discovered that their little three year old son, Kienan had been kidnapped.  That would be every parent’s worst nightmare.  But, then on Sunday, everything changed—the kidnapper called.  He had returned the little boy home! 

What unbridled joy that Dad and Mom felt, to go back into their home and find their son sitting there—unharmed!  It must have been something like the emotional roller coaster ride of the women who stood at the cross watching Jesus die in agony—thinking Him gone forever, then coming to the empty tomb and hearing the announcement that He was raised from the dead! 

Now—that was the best news ever! 

It was the best news because hell is the worst thing that could ever happen to us and heaven is the best thing that could ever happen to us.  Since Jesus died and rose again we can escape hell and enter heaven—not to mention that we can live in purpose, power, productivity and peace during our earthly pilgrimage also.

We live in a bad news world.  Much of what we see and hear is enough to drive us into the depths of depression.  Yet, the child of God knows something else.  We have good news.  No, more that that—it’s great news!  It is the best news ever!

You will see what I mean as we explore the earth-shaking events that happened in a Palestinian graveyard over two millennia ago.

We first encounter THE MOURNING WOMEN and the key word is GLOOM. 

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him.   Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb at sunrise.  They were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?’ (Mark 16:1-3) 

We know that several faithful women had followed Jesus all the way to the cross and watched Him die (15:40-41).  There was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was dead. 

This was verified by the Roman centurion in change of his execution (15:44-45).  Undeniable evidence was given, as a spear was thrust into his side, up under His rib cage and into the cardiac sac.  Had He still been alive that would have been a fatal wound itself.  John tells us that out flowed blood and water—the fluid that collected in his lungs and the blood from the spear thrust. 

Pontius Pilate certified Christ’s death and gave the body to Joseph of Arimathea who wound linen around the body—in tight strips like a mummy. Then, when He was buried, a massive stone sealed the tomb—and Matthew tells us armed guards were posted to prevent any mischief by the disciples (see Matt.27:62-66). 

Yes—Jesus was really dead! 

I spend time on this because there are many who would deny the reality of the resurrection and four of their favorites arguments are shot down by these facts.

One argument of the skeptics is THE SWOON THEORY: JESUS ONLY APPEARED DEAD, BUT REVIVED IN THE TOMB. 

Really?  After all we have described of the trauma He suffered, and what the witnesses saw, and then to expect He got better left untreated in a tomb, managed to unwrap himself and roll the stone away and get past the guards!  That is preposterous.

Skeptics also argue THE ROBBERY THEORY: THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY. 

They were in no shape to do so.  The men had run away, fearing for their lives and the women would be unable to do such a thing.  There was a massive stone that sealed the tomb and a military force that securely watched it.  How would these scared saints manage to suddenly have the courage to attempt such a feat and if they got past that hurdle, how would they have gotten past the guards?

Another argument is THE HALLUCINATION THEORY: THEY SO WANTED TO SEE JESUS ALIVE AND EXPECTED HIM TO RISE THAT THEY CONVINCED THEMSELVES IN EXPERIENCING A MASS HALLUCINATION. 

The fact is the women went to the tomb to embalm Him and didn’t expect to find Him to be risen.  Add to this that He was seen by over 500 people at once in His resurrection state according to Paul in 1 Corinthians15:6.  That is quite a mass hallucination!

Yet another argument is THE DECEPTION THEORY: IT IS ALL A MADE UP LIE. 

Do people suffer torture and death for what they know to be a lie?  It is true that people will die for a lie.  But, they die for a lie they believe is true.  So, a suicide bomber kills himself believing his act will bring him reward by Allah is paradise.  That isn’t true, but he believes it.  The followers of Christ would not have become martyrs, except that they knew Jesus was alive.  It wasn’t a fabrication.

Jesus was dead and buried, and that was the bad news—the worst news.  But the story doesn’t end there.  This leads to THE MARVELOUS WONDER and the key word is GLORY.

“Looking up, they observed that the stone — which was very large — had been rolled away.  When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a long robe sitting on the right side; they were [amazed and] alarmed.

‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them.  ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has been resurrected!  He is not here!  See the place where they put Him.’” (Mark 16:4-6) 

The gloom of their night of sorrow would give way to the glory of the dawn of hope! 

Mark only mentions one of the two angels that were there—the spokesman—and my, what a message he had! 

This changed everything.  If Jesus died and stayed dead then we have no hope!  Paul says we are yet in our sins and described poor, deluded Christians as the most miserable of people (see 1 Cor.15:12-19). 

But I am thrilled to report He is alive!   Jesus promised “Because I live, you will live too.” (John 14:19b)  How comforting that is to know, as we journey to the cemetery and as we face the grim reality of death that will come to us.

Next we encounter THE MUTE WITNESSES and the key word is GOSPEL. 

“‘But go, tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.”’

So they went out and started running from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them.   And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.” (Mark 16:7-8) 

Having been invited to come and see, they were now to go and tell.  Good news is meant for sharing—and this was the best news ever!

There was a special word for Peter.  That is encouraging!  The one who failed would be forgiven.  Failure isn’t fatal.  Jesus knew we would mess up big time, and that’s why He shed His blood.  He loves us so!  Grace can restore the fallen!

There was a special promise for the women: “He is going ahead of you…you will see Him there.”  The Good Shepherd who died for the sheep is raised and continues to lead the flock. 

But there was a problem: shock silenced them—for a while.  They are not the last to have vocal chords paralyzed by fear.  Because they did not understand everything, they refused at first to tell anything.  Are we mute?  That is criminal!  They had the best news ever and they do not tell it.  Lest we condemn them too quickly—how often have we told the story this week?  Thankfully, Mary Magdalene got over this quickly and ran for Peter and John as the angel had bidden them to do.  It is time for us to go and tell!