Slices
Prepare
'The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?' (Psalm 27:1). Bring your fears to the Lord now.
Bible passage
The burial of Jesus
42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
Jesus has risen
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, 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, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”’
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Explore
Have you ever been surprised by someone on the other side of a suddenly opening door? Welcome to the world of these women: the unexpected had happened. There was a body, but not the one they came for! Then came absolute astonishment with this announcement, 'Don't be alarmed... He has risen! He is not here' (v 6). The angel continues, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you' (v 7).
Here we have a parallel to Gabriel's visit to Mary, Jesus' mother. He said, 'Do not be afraid, Mary' (Luke 1:30), before telling her she would be the mother of the Son of God. This took place in Galilee. The story has travelled from human life in Galilee, to death, to risen life to be witnessed in Galilee where it began. Jesus' message is: 'Do not be afraid for I am with you from the start of life, to death, to new life', beginning and continuing with the same person – Jesus Christ the Lord.
Respond
'Lord, you have shown us that the whole of life is in your hands. We need not fear death because you have risen from it to new life. Help us to trust in you that we too, by faith, will live... eternally.'
Deeper Bible study
Reflect on all the women who have ministered the love of God to you.
The darkness has ended. The death has occurred. A pagan soldier has confessed him. Then we meet a group of people who have been unmentioned until now – the women who had followed Jesus. Luke tells us that these women financed much of Jesus’ ministry.1 The male disciples had all fled when Jesus was arrested, but many women stood at a distance from the cross. It is interesting that two of the women were the mothers of male disciples.2 Mark is not just signifying their faithfulness, but also marking them as faithful witnesses. They saw Jesus die, two witnessed his burial and three saw the empty tomb.
We also discover that there is one man for whom the death of Jesus becomes the occasion for boldness in identifying himself with Jesus and the kingdom of God. Joseph provides a tomb and organises the burial. Jesus rests for the Sabbath, as do all his disciples – as God had rested as he finished the work of creation. Then on the first day of the next week, the women come to anoint the body and instead find an open tomb and an angelic messenger.
It would seem that Mark has set the story to recount these faithful women as the first witnesses to the resurrection. We are expecting the risen Lord to appear, but the authentic text ends with fearful silent women. Scholars dispute whether Mark intended to end here or had planned more that was either uncompleted or lost. As the text stands, however, there are no testimonies to the resurrection and we as readers are challenged. Are we today witnesses to the astonishing fact that Jesus has dealt with sin on the cross and conquered death? Let us tell everyone this news.
Overcome your fears and talk about the risen Lord.
1 Luke 8:2,3 2 Matt 27:56
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 3,4; Proverbs 1,2
Pray for Scripture Union
Development worker Jenni Whymark was due to be involved today with the High Tide youth service, which gathers young people from across Portsmouth for worship, activities and teaching. It has had to be cancelled but please pray for the young people in the Portsmouth area and for Jenni, as she seeks to maintain connections.
