Believing for Hope (Mk. 16:1-8)
This life is hard. Where is your hope? We’ve all been tracking the war over in Ukraine. There’s so much suffering. And no end in sight. Over Christmas our family rode subways in New York. But this week someone shot up one of the cars. The last couple of years have been so rough for so many of our bodies. But they’ve maybe taken even a bigger toll here in our hearts. Everywhere we turn - suffering and sin. Death and destruction. It’s all around. This life is hard. Where is your hope?
Today, we come together to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. And I want us to look at this very short - and very surprising ending we find in the gospel of Mark. We’ll look at the characters. We’ll see and hear their responses to the empty tomb. And we’ll hear a word of encouragement for us today.
The Women at the Tomb
Notice first the women there at the tomb. There in verse 1 - “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.” They’re clearly women with some courage. Right? Mark 14:50 tells us, after Christ’s arrest, that everyone fled. But not these women. And this isn’t the only place where we see them. If were reading straight through Mark and got to these verses, we’d notice that we’ve seen this group two other times before. They witness the burial of Jesus, in chapter 15, verse 47 - minus, that time, Salome. And they are there - all three - at the crucifixion, just before, in verse 40. Now that was brave.
Back several years ago, in my grad school days, I drove back to our first home, a bit early, intending to surprise my new bride. And surprise her, I did. I came into the house, and began to walk toward the stairs, and I turned to see my wife lunging at me from one of the steps.
She had this strange, scared, then confused, expression on her face as she stopped just before she snapped my neck. She of course was like, “I almost killed you.” And I’m like, “Isn’t that what 911 is for?” She was may have been scared. But there was no stopping her. Just like these ladies right here. I saw Pastor Ian Simkins say on social media the other day: “Preachers often say that Jesus was abandoned by all his disciples after his arrest and crucifixion. He wasn’t. The women stayed.” They trust God. They’re being brave. These women show up at the tomb.
Now don’t miss something here. The fact it’s women who are here, in Mark, at the tomb, is really significant. Why’s that? Well, for a couple of reasons. It shows the place of women among the people of God. Now there is this mindset out there, that the Bible is regressive, even repressive, toward women. But women are here experiencing these earth-shaking events. Lifted up as heroes of sorts in these verses right here. They’re right there at the start, looking in the tomb.
They’re the first witnesses of these things to the world. Now this may seem normal and obvious to us. But it’s still not the thinking in most in the world. And it sure wasn’t normal in that first century day.
But there’s another reason why their place is so important. It shows us the truth of this story in the word of God. Now here’s in part why this picture is so progressive. In Christ’s day, in the Greco-Roman world, the testimony of women simply wasn’t trusted. It wasn’t taken seriously. It wouldn’t stand up in court.
So the Lord here isn’t just making a statement about the inclusivity of God’s people. But also the veracity of His word. This is not the type of thing you just make up. Because people wouldn’t buy it This isn’t a cute and tidy account designed to persuade as many people as possible. It’s just what happened. God includes who He wants. He does things His way. He’s turning things upside down. In moving away that stone!
Now they no doubt walk up to this tomb discouraged. Remember, they think the man they thought was the Messiah is dead. They also bring their doubts. Right? Now Christ had been telling His followers, repeatedly along the way, that He would “suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). And there are Mary, the other Mary, and Salome there ready to anoint a dead body. They doubt. But where are the guys - the disciples? Again, they’re not even there. They scatter - in sadness. Yes. But also due to doubt. They’re not at the tomb, with their lawn chairs and popcorn, ready to see what’s next. As they should have been. They just can’t believe a resurrection could happen.
Now there have always been those - and there still are today - that say the disciples made up the resurrection. And have somehow duped the world. But people back then thought it was just as crazy. Greeks in Christ’s day wanted out of the body. And a resurrection would have been repulsive to them.
Jews back then looked forward to a resurrection - at the end of the world - not of just one person and not in the middle of history. Why would they make up something they couldn’t even understand? And didn’t really want? We can relate to these women on the scene - and the men back in home - more than we probably think. Because we also bring our doubts about a resurrection.
Now verse 2 says they go to the tomb, the one where Jesus had been laid. And verse 3 says they only then think about the large, rolling, stone door. But verse 4 says the problem has been solved. Except for the fact that an empty grave probably wasn’t good. Their minds are probably fearing robbers or dogs when they look into the tomb and gasp. But they walk down the trail in disbelief. And they walk into the tomb, the same way, with their doubts.
Now I don’t know about you, but it’s definitely something I can relate to. And I’m a pastor. Yeah, I doubt. Everyone else does here, too, if we’re honest. I remember back five years ago or so, my mom died. And it hit me really hard. We had a really hard relationship. And I’ve heard that tends to make it even harder. That was my experience. But I just remember listening over and over to “How Majestic” by the Citizens, a song we do here all the time. Praying and weeping. But wrestling with doubt. Did I believe that this life was all there was? Did I really think God raised the dead? It was hard.
Also, I’ve mentioned this before, but the past couple of years have been quite a struggle for me. As I’ve seen people wearing Christian t-shirts and posting Christian memes talking and walking in a way that’s the very opposite of love. It’s hit me hard. It’s made me mad. And I’ve been tempted to ask. “God are you really in control?” “Are you really still alive and at work in your church?”
Now if you read church history, there have been so many ups and downs. And I still see the Lord at work around us - and in here - even today. I believe there are good reasons why we should believe in Christ’s resurrection here. The tomb was empty. That’s an indisputable fact. We have the testimony of many eyewitnesses. And we also see the impact of this reality on the life of Christ’s followers. There are reasons to believe. I keep coming back to Peter’s words, in John 6:68, to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Now these women come to this tomb, to their Lord, discouraged, but also with love. They come with “spices,” says verse 1, “so that they might go and anoint him.” They’re not embalming him, like morticians do today. The spices may preserve the body for awhile. They will offset the smell, even just a bit. But they’re more a sign of respect. They bring their love.
Verse 5 says they walk in, to the inner chamber of that tomb, and they see a young man, there seated, dressed in white. And this is no doubt an angel right in front of them. Now maybe you’re like me - and your mom had angel figurines all over your house. And some thought “cute” and you thought “cringe.” But in the Bible, when people run into them, dressed in white, they don’t say, “Aw.” They say, “Ahhhh!” As verse 5 puts it, as brave as they are, these women are “alarmed.” They’re in the presence of the divine. And they’re not sure they’ll live. As Jared Wilson has written, the “proper response to easter is not warm fuzzies, but awe.”
Verse 8 says, they fly out of the tomb. “Trembling and astonishment” seizes them. And for at least awhile, they don’t even speak of it. They’re “afraid.” But at least they show up, even if not with faith, but at least in love. Again, where are the guys? At home, hiding under their beds. James? John? Where’s your thunder now? But the three ladies here act like they’ve been struck by lightning!
I remember back just after college. I was playing guitar in a worship team. And the leader, who was a good friend, got invited to lead at a conference, so I and the rest of the team joined him, to lead music, for this event. From the very beginning I was uncomfortable. I felt like I was trapped in a B-movie about budding televangelists. Talk about cringe. I was creeped out. Some of the wackiest stuff I’ve ever seen. The preacher for the night would lay his hands on folks who’d come up front. He’d pray. And they’d fall down. They’d be “slain in the spirit.” At least that’s what they called it.
Now I’m up there, strumming along, wondering how I can extract myself without scratching my guitar, and this roar - and I mean roar - comes through the sound system. Now you’ve heard soundboards go awry. You’ve heard feedback in church. This was at a whole other level. And I was thinking, “God is judging this. We are going to die.” But I somehow made it out alive. And then didn’t come back for the rest of the nights.
These women here. They sense they’re in the presence of the divine. That something has happened they can’t fully grasp. And they flip out. And with a weird man in white there. And the body of Jesus no where to be found. They probably thought something bad was coming. And they’d better get out quick.
Now if you read the Bible this kind of reaction is normal. Get before God - or representatives of Him. And people fall to their faces. God is holy, a consuming fire. We know - even if it’s deep down within - that we’re not clean. That He’s too pure for us. And the thought of being near to God scares us. Could we really be close to Him? Without being consumed? Could He really want to come near? Since He knows who we really are? I feel this way at times.
But the good news is that what happens here at the end of Mark reverberates from then all the way until now. And gives us hope - that we can do more than just survive in His presence. But thrive - and be all we were made and ever wanted to be. Here, in these women, we see doubt. And we see fear. Doubt that a resurrection could happen. Fear that we could really, safely be that close to our God.
The Angel in the Tomb
But I want you to see here how this angel responds. He meets that doubt and fear with grace and hope. See first the grace. He doesn’t chide them for bringing the perfume. For thinking Christ would be dead. For looking so shocked at what they see. He alleviates their fears. He wipes away their shame. And the angel also has kindness for those who aren’t even there. The dudes.
Look at verse 7. “But go, tell his disciples and Peter.” These are the disciples that fled and hid. And this is the leader of the group. Peter, yes, at times had been brave or maybe brash. But He’s also the one that denied the Lord just a few pages back. That’s the point the angel is making. There’s even hope for him and for them. They don’t need to be ashamed. They don’t need to be afraid.
Now there are people fleeing Christianity all over America today. And it’s more from the church, I’d argue, than it is from Christ. But people often explain it that they can’t deal with their doubts. And it’s been common to heap upon them lots of guilt and shame. But I just can’t get behind that at all. Again, maybe I have compassion because I can relate. But I take comfort in what we hear from this angel right here. Who’s an emissary for our welcoming Lord.
You don’t have to have all your questions answered. Your walk can be really wobbly. Your prayers can be really feeble. Just come. He was waiting for them in Galilee. He’s ready for you here.
Jesus calls us out of our doubt into faith. This angel says to these women, here in verse 6, “See the place where they laid Him.” Go, see, the angel says. And in verse 7, He says, “Go, tell.” Go talk to Peter and the guys and tell them to meet you with Jesus in Galilee. God, though Mark, through this angel, tells us the same thing. See, with eyes of faith. The tomb is empty. Go out and proclaim it. He shows these women grace in their doubts. And calls them to faith again.
But he also gives them the truth. He lays out the gospel, the “good news here.” “You seek Jesus of Nazareth.” The man. From that town in the hills. The One who was “crucified.” Killed in the most barbaric way. For our sins. “He is not here.” Look around, you can see the “place where they laid him.” “He is risen.” Death couldn’t hold Him. He was raised to live again. Into their fears, what does this angel do? He points them to hope.
I remember back in those days I mentioned, after the death of my mother, when I was really struggling, when times were really hard. I messaged Russell Moore, and asked him to pray, and he responded with these words:
“I am praying right now. I have been through a very similar experience, it sounds like, with a grandmother who was like a mother. I am praying. Don't worry about the guilt or the doubt. Just notice it. You can notice the guilt and doubt, while knowing that this is like weather, a storm you are going through. Jesus is there in the water with you, and it's okay if you can't swim. He will catch you. Love you brother. Praying.” (Russell D. Moore)
Here’s a national Christian leader. Courageous as they come. On CNN seemingly once a week, representing Jesus, saying, “I doubt. I get afraid.”
Again, how can we come close to a God who’s so great? In our doubts, but also with our guilt? Through Jesus. The risen One. Who’s right there with us. We can be close to God again. And this broken world can be healed. In Jesus.
Here in Mark 16, the women come with their doubts. They respond with their fear. The angel gives them much grace. And sings over them with truth. We can bring the same things ourselves. And receive those same gifts, too. Here, in front of the empty tomb.
Hope in a Hard World
The tomb is empty. What’ll you do? Now you may have noticed. We stopped reading - and examining - this passage at what seems to be an odd place - right after verse 8.
Now many manuscripts of the book of Mark remain. And they’re all extremely old. But the vast majority of them, and the most reliable ones, don’t include verses 9 through 20. And most scholars are convinced they just don’t belong. Maybe you’re the type of person that straightens crooked picture frames when you walk in a room. Or you can’t call a cake dessert until you spread some frosting on top. It seems like that’s what may have happened with this ending right here. Do you see how it ends in verse 8? The women fleeing away, freaking out - afraid even to speak?
Mark the gospel is far more brief than Matthew, Luke, and John. And without more details in the ending, many have thought it felt a bit incomplete. So it’s more than likely that scribes back in the day tacked on a few more words. And filled in the rest of the story. But in doing that, they may have completely missed the author’s original point.
Hear the way musician and author Michael Card explains it:
“The literary mastery of this ending is that it leaves us standing with the women outside the vacant tomb as well. We are forced to cope with the situation exactly as they were. We are forced to believe without seeing the body. We are compelled to trust Jesus’ promise without any proof. That was Mark’s contribution to the early church, to draw them into the drama of the moment as no other Gospel writer in the decades to follow would do. It was risky and brilliant, and he needs to be deeply appreciated for the literary genius that he was.” (Michael Card)
So, to repeat what I said, just a few moments ago: The tomb is empty. What’ll you do? Mark, inspired by the Holy Spirit, calls for a response. He gives an invitation - to people who stand there in disbelief, and who even struggle to obey - like these women right here.
He wants to pull us through the haze of doubt and fear. He calls us to believe. In the resurrection of Christ. And what it means in our lives that can be so hard. He offers us hope. But hope… how?
Believe, friend. Believe, first, in redemption from sin. From your past. From the penalty of sin. You can stop beating yourself up. In your present. From the power of sin. You don’t have to keep hitting your head against the wall. For your future. From the presence of sin. One day, all of your struggles will be gone. This is the promise of the resurrection - redemption from sin.
Believe, second, in relief from suffering. That’s body and soul. One day, your flesh and bones and lungs and guts won’t hurt and break down anymore. And your brain and heart won’t ache so much. There will be freedom from aging and ailments. And from agony and despair. This is the promise of the resurrection - relief from suffering.
Believe, third, in rescue from the grave. We don’t have to fear death anymore. One day our bodies will be raised - made new, just like His. And they’ll again be healed and whole. We don’t look forward to escaping this body. But His transformation of it. Death was never the Lord’s intention when He made us and put us in this world. And He’ll put death to death - once and for all - when our resurrected Lord returns in the clouds. This is the promise of the resurrection - rescue from the grave.
Believe, fourth, in restoration for the world. At His return, His creation will be renewed. We look forward to a “new heavens” and a “new earth.” With no more war or pain. No more sickness or dying. All our tears will be wiped away. God’s creation will be remade as it was intended. With Jesus the King at the center. His kingdom will come to earth. And we’ll reign with Him forever. This is the promise of the resurrection - restoration for the world.
Believe, fifth, in reason for our labor. The resurrection gives us a purpose for our lives, for our work, as we wait for Christ’s return and the renewal of all things. We point to that day that awaits down the road. We bring some of that eternity into the here and now. I love the way N.T. Wright puts it:
“Every act of love, every deed done in Christ and by the Spirit, every work of true creativity – doing justice, making peace, healing families, resisting temptation, seeking and winning true freedom – is an earthly event in a long history of things that implement Jesus’s own resurrection and anticipate the final new creation and act as signposts of hope, pointing back to the first and on to the second.” (N.T. Wright)
This is the promise of the resurrection - reason for our labor.
Believe, sixth, in riches of joy. I started out fairly somber. “Suffering and sin. Death and destruction. It’s all around.” But this is Easter. And Easter means there are reasons for joy. Jesus is alive! He reigns over this earth, no matter how it might look. His Spirit dwells in our hearts, right now if we believe. He’s at work all around us. He’s bringing His life. In us. Through us. In this world, we can see Jesus making all things new. If we have eyes to see. He is risen! Let’s celebrate today. This is the promise of the resurrection - riches of joy.
So I’ll repeat my challenge. The tomb is empty. What’ll you do? Will you believe? And believe for hope? Life is hard. Where is your hope? As Tim Keller has often said, you want this to be true.
Will you let Him bring you through your doubts? He understands. And He offers so much grace. Will you let Him guide you through your fears? There’s grace for there, too. And it’s certainly better than a world without purpose. See the plausibility of faith. Hear the possibility of hope. The tomb is empty. What’ll you do? Believe in Jesus. His resurrection. There’s hope there, friends. Let’s pray.