Trembling and Astonishment
Mark 16:1–8 – Holy Week, Mark
Easter Sunday – March 31, 2024 (am)
We’ve been reading Mark’s telling of Jesus’ story in recent weeks, now we’ll read his resurrection account. And he didn’t have much good to say about the initial reactions of Jesus’ closest followers.
Paul records that Jesus 1Co.15:3 … died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…, 5 and that he appeared to [Peter], then to the twelve, 6 [t]hen… to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Even so, as Jesus was ascending back into heaven forty days after His resurrection, Matthew records that Mat.28:17 … when [the disciples] saw him they worshiped…, but some doubted.
And prior to that, Luke reported that the women told the apostles the things they saw at the tomb, Luk.24:11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. No gloss here!
But we really are strange creatures, capable of doubting what’s real even when it’s staring us right in the face! And just to be clear, there’s nothing in this world more real than the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Our very presence here this morning proves that.
If Jesus’ body were still decaying in some Jerusalem grave, we wouldn’t be talking or preaching about Him still. Paul said it best in 1Co.15:14 … if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. In fact 17 …, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. … 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. This means that many more resurrections are still to come!
Even so, if people are bent on doubting it, they’re fully capable of doing so. We can see that from these first century accounts of Matthew and Luke. And we’ll also see it here in Mark today.
But the very life and worship of this church that you’re experiencing this morning are proof not only that Jesus is risen, but that He’s still at work changing the lives of all who believe.
Let’s read Mark’s brief account of Jesus’ resurrection and notice that he’s not embellishing or exaggerating anything. In fact, he seems to have no interest in even putting a good face on things!
At this stage in Mark’s telling of the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion, he’s laid out parallel and interwoven accounts of the religious leaders’ plan versus God’s plan for how best to respond to Jesus’ life and ministry. As c.15 closed, it seemed like the leaders’ plan had prevailed. Jesus’ bloodied and beaten corpse had been removed from the cross and placed in a tomb (15:45-46), and quickly before sundown on the eve of the Sabbath.
Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (possibly Jesus’ mother), and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has 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 to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
Before we read the last verse here, let’s just pause and note what it must’ve meant to Peter to be singled out like this, to make sure he got this word, after he’d denied Jesus three times just a few days before. Wow, God’s forgiveness is amazing! And it stands as the centerpiece of His plan!
That’s good news for each of us today, too. This is what tells us that we can’t sin too badly for God to save us! We just can’t out-sin God’s grace! No matter how far we stray, He can still find us, cleanse us, and reconcile us to Himself through Jesus’ sacrifice! Peter is proof! So am I!
But look now at v.8. 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. The best manuscript traditions suggest that Mark’s story ends right here. Jesus was alive, but His followers were mute with fear! The spoke later, but not at first.
It seems like Mark was intending to leave his readers with a question, namely: What about you? How do you respond to Jesus—especially Jesus’ resurrection? Are you more like these women here? Or are you more like all those here this morning who just keep answering: He’s risen indeed!? Have you trusted Jesus, received Him as Savior and Lord? Or are you keeping your distance, perhaps even running away in fear, overcome by trembling and astonishment?
I’ve told GCD before about my old friend, the Psychiatry Professor who loved to talk about religion; he loved the positive impact religious faith has on how people live. But when I was finally able to tell him the whole story of Jesus—His birth, life, death, resurrection, and what it really means to follow Jesus—my friend sat speechless for a few moments, then said: If this is true, it changes everything. Then he changed the subject and never wanted to talk about religion again.
I remember a similar conversation with a woman on that same Board. She brought up the subject. But as we talked, her facial expression and tone of voice moved increasingly toward panic. The thought that there really is a God to Whom she’ll answer for her life was simply terrifying to her! Finally, she just wanted to change the subject to absolutely anything else.
I believe Mark’s conclusion here is not all that unusual. I believe these two friends ran away in trembling and astonishment as they realized some of the implications of placing their trust in Jesus. Even so, they were completely overwhelmed by the thought that, if He really is Who He says He is, and actually did what the Bible says He did, then there’s no easy way of escape! We either need to bow before Him in humility, repentance, and faith, or we’ll likely need to spend the rest of our lives running away, or hiding, from any more conversations about Him!
Mark records Jesus as saying that 10:45 … [He] came… to give his life as a ransom for many. Back at the very start, He said: 1:14 … the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. These are considered the theme verses in Mark’s gospel.
So, have you listened to them? Have you responded by placing your trust in Jesus? Or are you still running away in fear?
This is the question I need to leave with you this morning. This is the question Mark’s gospel leaves with you.
And if you’d like to reconsider your current answer to it, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at GCD. Give me a call. I’d be delighted to talk with you more about it!
NEXT SUNDAY: The Faithfulness and Effect of God’s Judgment, Ezekiel 12:1–14:23