TRIUMPH! "FIRST EASTER SERMON"

 SOON AFTER SUNRISE THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, SOME WOMEN WENT TO THE TOMB TO COMPLETE THE BURIAL PROCEDURES. IT WAS EMPTY. IT WAS THEIR PRIVILEGE TO HEAR THE FIRST EASTER SERMON EVER PREACHED: " DO NOT BE AMAZED; YOU SEEK JESUS OF NAZARETH, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE HAS RISEN, HE IS NOT HERE; SEE THE PLACE WHERE THEY LAID HIM;  BUT GO, TELL HIS DISCIPLES AND PETER THAT HE IS GOING BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE; THERE YOU SHALL SEE HIM, AS HE TOLD YOU." (MARK 16:6,7). JESUS WAS ALIVE! THEY WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN! SOON! IN GALILEE!  THE REFERENCE TO PETER PICKS UP JESUS PREDICTION IN 14:28. MARK MAKES NO MENTION OF THE RISEN JESUS BEING SEEN IN JERUSALEM. HE WILL BE SEEN IN GALILEE. A PROBLEM ARISES REGARDING (MARK 16:9-20.) IT IS NOT FOUND IN THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPTS. ALTHOUGH SOME ARGUE THAT MARK INTENDED TO END HIS WORK AT (16:8). OTHERS FIND IT HARD TO ACCEPT THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO CONCLUDE SO ABRUPTLY. SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE:  (1) MARK'S ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT WAS MUTILATED SOON AFTER IT WAS WRITTEN. (2) MARK DIED BEFORE HE COULD COMPLETE THE WORK. (3) HE WROTE MORE AFTER (16:8), BUT IT WAS SUPPRESSED FOR SOME REASON. IF THE CONCLUSION WAS LOST, IT WAS LOST AT A EARLIER DATE. THE LONGER ENDING CAN BE OUTLINED AS FOLLOWS:  THE APPEARANCE OF MARY MAGDALENE, 16:9-11; SEE JOHN 20:11:18. THE APPEARANCE TO THE TWO TRAVELERS, 16:8 BUT IT 16:12-13; SEE ALO LUKE 24: 13-32.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE ELEVEN, 16: I4-18; SEE ALSO MATTHEW 28:16-2O; LUKE 24: 36-49; JOHN 20: 19-23 ALSO LUKE 24: 50,51. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE GOSPEL CLOSES AT 16:8.  EVERYWHERE IT PRESUPPOSES THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. THE MESSAGE OF 16:1-8 CULMINATES IN THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN, AND CHALLENGES THE CHURCH TO FACE THE GOSPEL'S CLAIMS ABOUT JESUS PERSON AND MESSIANIC MINISTRY. EVERYWHERE IT PRESUPPOSES  THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. THE MESSAGE OF 16:8 CULMINATES IN THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN(V.8), THE CONCEPT OF JESUS AUTHORITY PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN MARK'S GOSPEL. JESUS DEMONSTRATED HIS AUTHORITY OVER NATURE, 4:35-41, 6 45-52. IN DOING SO, HE MANIFESTED THE POWER THE OLD TESTAMENT ASCRIBES TO GOD HIMSELF. JESUS POSSESSED AMAZING AUTHORITY AS A TEACHER, 1:21-22. THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES TENDED TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN A MULTITUDE OF DETAILS, AND CONTINUALLY APPEALED TO RABBINIC OPINION TO BUTTRESS THEIR OWN POSITIONS. JESUS DID NOT EVEN SAY, " THUS SAYS THE LORD."  HE SAID SIMPLY, "I SAY UNTO YOU." THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OBVIOUS. JESUS DECLARED THAT HE HAD THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS, AUTHORITY OVER DEATH 5: 21-43 HIS ACTIONS IN RAISING THE DEAD DECLARED IN HIM THE MESSIANIC AGE HAD BROKEN IN. REMEMBER: ONLY GOD HAS SUCH AUTHORITY.