Mark 15:8-11 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. 9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
 
THE devoted women became suddenly afraid. The stone is rolled away, but Jesus is gone! Had they put themselves in danger as they attempted to care for Jesus’ body? What’s more a man spoke a very strange message, “He is risen! You’ll see him in Galilee.” The words were abrupt. The women received the life-changing announcement with fear. Why were they afraid?
   If it were true everything would change, wouldn’t it? Their understanding of Jesus would change. Their belief in God would change. Jesus’ resurrection is a life-altering event. Life-altering is fearful. Who knows what will happen?
   What was your first reaction to, “Jesus is risen. The grave is empty!” Were you afraid to consider the Living Lord will change your life? To believe and live the Good News, “He has risen! He is not here.” means you must confront your life. Is the risen Lord your foe or your friend?
   Even the disciples weren’t sure. Mary told the mourning and weeping disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18) But they did not believe it. It was only when Jesus appeared to them, talked and ate with them did they believe Mary’s good news.
   But what do you do with the doubt? The women and the disciples had real evidence. Do you?
   We could say, “Just believe.” but you must know Jesus is the object of your faith. One way to strengthen your faith is to know these three facts that confirm Jesus’ resurrection.
   The first is salvation. True salvation changes lives. No mere idea or dead god could transform anyone. Those who confess Jesus are new in him because he is alive.
   The second evidence is the Old Testament scriptures. Hundreds of prophecies refer to Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. Jesus fulfilled each of those prophecies. No dead rabbi could do that.
   The third evidence is the eyewitnesses. The gospels and epistles were written when Paul, Peter and John were under great persecution. Paul and Peter died for their work. John was exiled. All suffered terribly. False witnesses do not suffer and die for a false teacher.
   Still each of us must come to the point when we put aside fear and doubt to receive Jesus’ transforming salvation. Be diligent to listen to His Word. Know he has lived, suffered, died, risen and ascended for your eternal life.

Mark 16:1-4 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.
 
WE continue to observe the devoted women (See prior lesson.) tend to their Lord. Their mission was simple: anoint Jesus’ body. Complete the work delayed because of the Sabbath. Perhaps as we would say, they were purposeful to bring some closure to the awful suffering their beloved Jesus had endured. Their aching hearts needed some relief.
   But there was this doubt: who would roll away the large stone? An immovable obstacle would block their work. Should they continue to their task? In the morning’s darkness and the pale of death that hung in their minds, it might have been easier to stay at home.
   But it’s never truly easy to stay at home when the Holy Spirit is moving you to God’s purpose. You can fight it and say, “Not me, Lord.” But the Spirit moves the faithful heart past the fear into action. Surely the Spirit was on the women. How else would they have the faith to walk into an unknown circumstance?
   Faith stirred their mission and set aside their fear. Yes, fear and doubt were in their minds, but these restrictions did not control them. A faithful focus on their work strengthened their steps to go to the tomb and to care for Jesus’ body.
   Their determination is rewarded. How relieved they were to see the stone rolled away! Then they discovered their true mission:
 
Mark 16:5-7 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.’”
 God had formed the women for a very special purpose. No other people in the world’s history would have the task set before them that day. He had grown them into life and chosen them out of the crowds to be the first to know the tomb is empty!
   They could have easily missed their calling. Fear could have overcome their faith – “Who will roll away the stone? Is it safe to go?” But faith replaced their questions. They had obeyed. Then God rewarded. They become Jesus’ first missionaries to proclaim, “He is risen!”
   When we are faithful to obey him, God’s rewards are beyond our expectations, even into eternal life: Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”

Mark 15:40-47 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. 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 Joses saw where he was laid.
 
TO be devoted to Jesus is to have a consistent, loving response to Jesus’ grace. The four people in this scripture are good examples of such a devoted life. Mary Magdalene, Luke tells us, was healed from seven demons. Mary is the mother of James the younger (the smaller or younger disciple James) and Joses, apparently a man well-known in the early church. Salome is the apostles James’ and John’s mother. Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy man of the Ruling Council. He opposed Jesus’ crucifixion. And John partners him with Nicodemus in Jesus’ burial. Joseph gave his new family tomb for Jesus’ body.
   The three women were consistently with Jesus during his ministry. They loved Jesus because of his tender care on their own lives. And they saw his mercy extend to Israel’s suffering people. They watched his magnificent healings and marveled at his authoritative teachings.   They also knew that as fully man, the Lord needed their faithful support to care for his physical needs.
   One day their devotion took them farther than they could have imagined. There they were at the cross, still with Jesus, witnessing the bitter, brutal end of their beloved Master’s life.
   Devoted to  him in life, they remained courageously committed to stay with him even into his death. They wept for him at the cross. They followed his body to the tomb. They needed to know where he is buried, so they could anoint his body with spices for the Lord’s proper burial.
   Joseph could not help Jesus in life, so he honored Jesus in his death with the very valuable new family tomb. Then he affirmed Jesus’ body was secure as he rolled the stone over the entrance to the tomb. (This refers to Joseph overseeing this work; he would not have been able to move the massive stone on his own.)
   How can you express devotion to Jesus? You can’t physically care for Jesus as the women did, but you can care for and love others as he instructs us. You can also stand in his truth even when others abandon or minimize him. Devotion to God is to love him with all your heart. Devotion to God is to love others as yourself.
     What do you say, then, are you devoted to Jesus? 

Mark 15:22-26 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
 
ONE simple sentence: And they crucified him. defines sin’s great cost. Here is the moment God promised to mankind when he confirmed his victory plan over Satan: Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Satan has struck Jesus heel, a metaphor for the most horrible affliction of pain and humiliation. Do you wonder, “Why did Jesus need to suffer? Why did his affliction need to be so terrible?” You can find an answer when you discover many Bible verses that reveal God deeply hated sin.
   Remember, God is life. He created a world of life in all forms of creatures to fill the world and dwell in harmony. But the first thing sin caused in the world was bloodshed. God killed animals to clothe the suddenly naked and shamed Adam and Eve. Sin was also a death penalty to humanity. “You will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) was God’s solemn warning to Adam. Death and bloodshed is sin’s price. To redeem the bloodshed and to overcome death, someone needed to pay with blood and his life. The only one who could do this for all humanity is the Son of God. In love and grace, the Father chose the Son to pour out his blood to overturn sin’s death penalty.
   That’s why you praise God for the second part of the Genesis promise: “He will crush your head.” Jesus died to destroy Satan’s authority over our souls. Through Jesus’ resurrection, death no longer reigns. Jesus’ resurrection from the grave and his ascension to heaven’s throne defeated Satan’s headship over mankind. Today from his throne, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to crush the Evil One’s control over mankind’s soul. The Spirit has resurrected countless hearts to Jesus’ salvation. These confessions crush sin’s death and raise hearts to Jesus’ life.
   Behold the victory promise! Revelation 21:7-9 “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
   Praise God! “And they crucified him.” is the Father’s evidence he has fulfilled his promise to redeem the sins of all who believe.  

Mark 14:22-25 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
 
MAY this scripture help you to more fully understand God’s deep love for your soul. Note carefully Jesus’ words to begin this Last Supper as recorded in Luke 22:15 I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. He is eager – enthusiastic, impatient, passionate – to eat with his disciples. He knows this is the beginning of the new covenant of blood for the salvation of all who believe. His words and his actions reveal the Way to Life. Through the Son, the Father is opening the door for mankind to receive eternal life.
   That’s why the Last Supper is called communion. When Jesus broke the bread he said, “This is my body.” His body was broken on the cross for his disciples with him that night. His body was also broken for all his disciples until his second coming. Then with the cup of wine in hand he promised, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”  Note this promise isn’t for all people. It is for many. The many, again, are those who are his disciples who confess and believe, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior, risen from the dead.” Jesus’ very personal sacrifice is a promise only to those who promise to follow him in faith.
   Jesus’ words and actions that night were very similar to a Jewish engagement ceremony. The groom to be would raise his glass of wine to his bride and commit his life to hers.
   Jesus broke the bread, and he raised the cup. Then he said, “This is for you.” Will you grasp the promise to receive his great payment for your sin? Receive Jesus and live in joy! The Lord Jesus is offering to commune with you in the unity of your faith in God: Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
   The God of creation has offered his very essence to you, so you will commune with him forever.

Mark 14:10-11, 16-18 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over…16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.”
 
BETRAYAL is very hard to forgive. If you want to deeply hurt someone, betray their trust in you. They’ll harbor hard feelings against you for a very long time, perhaps for the rest of their lives. What causes one to betray friends, business associates or family? Why would Judas betray Jesus?
   Pride and self-focus is the root of betrayal. Judas’ focus was a common one. He wanted money.  He bartered Jesus’ life for 30 pieces of silver. Perhaps there are other reasons, but regardless of what we think, Judas betrayed Jesus for his own perverted reason. To the betrayer, “Me” has high priority over “We”. 
   In contrast, Jesus demonstrates he is in complete union with the Father’s will. Jesus, of course, knew his disciple’s self-focused heart. He even told Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:27b. Jesus purposefully and faithfully moved forward to complete God’s plan to be your Savior. To do otherwise, Jesus would have betrayed the Father, and he would have betrayed you. There is only “You.” in Jesus’ sacrificial love.
     We can also note that Judas wasn’t the only betrayer in Jerusalem that week. Read how the ruling Jews were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. These men who said they taught God’s law and guarded his temple were also self-centered. They profited from the business in the temple. Their purpose was to rule and become wealthy. They accused Jesus of blasphemy; yet they were the one betraying the LORD God. They blasphemed his name with their hard hearts, intent on “Me” more than the people they claimed to serve.
   When we consider the great battle between God and Satan during this dark week in Jerusalem, our minds must always take time to evaluate our own relationship with Jesus and his church. Perhaps we are guilty of betraying our vows we professed as we were baptized or joined a church. Maybe we have betrayed the trust a pastor has put in us to complete a task for the church we had committed to do but neglected. Might we be too “Me” centered when we consider our offerings? Have we betrayed specific promises to a friend or family member? Can people trust you to be honest? Do you need to seek forgiveness for a betrayal? Or perhaps it’s time to forgive someone who has betrayed you.
       On that night when Jesus said, “I tell you the truth.” he reminded us he is the Truth. You can trust that the Savior, who was willing to submit to his betrayer, will never betray you.

Mark 14:3-9 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
 
JESUS’ prophecy has certainly come true. Wherever the gospel is preached, this story is told to help us remember Jesus’ love for his people and Mary’s complete, sacrificial love for Jesus.
   We know this was Mary, Lazarus’ and Martha’s sister, because the apostle John gives us a closer look at the ways Jesus’ love had impacted those at the table: John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
   Jesus had healed Simon the Leper of leprosy. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the tomb. Lazarus’ sister Martha used her hospitality gift to prepare and serve the meal. Mary expressed her worship to the Lord when she lavished the precious nard perfume over Jesus’ body. The extravagant pouring onto Jesus surely represented Mary’s gratitude that Lazarus was alive. Perhaps we can also say the perfume demonstrated each healed person’s worshipful love for the Healer, Redeemer, Resurrection and the Life who dined with them. What other response could they give to the One who gave new life physically, emotionally and spiritually to many at the table?
   But did the others who said, “The money given to the poor.” have a valid point? Wouldn’t Jesus have been more pleased to see the poor fed, clothed and housed? Jesus’ response effectively said that they should always care for the poor. There would be time for that. But in that one moment one week before the cross, Jesus accepted the worship he deserved. For three years he had been the Father’s and the Jews’ humble servant to respond to countless needs. Before he offered his life, he allowed the faithful to offer sacrifice to him.
   What Mary did that day teaches a worshipful love for God we rarely experience. At the Lord’s feet she gave Jesus all the love that he is due. Let each of consider, “How will I tell Jesus, ‘I love you.’ today?” 

Meditations This Week on Jesus’ Passion for You
 
Mark 14:1-2 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
 
THE chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. Is there a more dreadful sentence in Scripture? To witness Israel’s great crime against God even centuries later should cause all of us to shudder over our sin. And then we should tell God, “I love you! Thank you for your great love to save me to eternal life through Jesus’ brutal death.” Stop, too, and remember such gracious words as Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
   If the teachers of the law had truly known God’s law, they would have known the Savior was teaching them. In their ignorance they attempted to trick him with their weak questions. But Jesus revealed their lies and their false motives. The experts in the law lost every debate. The more they encountered him, the weaker they looked to the crowds. It came to the point they had no reply the Living Word: Luke 20:40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions. Power and prestige defiled their hearts. Their solution was to kill him.
    “Kill” is a hard word to consider. We don’t say this much. “They crucified Jesus. They put him to death.” are certainly hard statements. But to kill someone seems to be a more personal, intentional act. Very personally and deliberately the ruling Jews plotted and planned in the dark to kill the one who threatened their unlawful lives.
   We must be very careful we’re not as those teachers. We can easily be too self-righteous, too confident of ourselves to allow Jesus to rule our hearts. We don’t like to use the word “kill” when we talk of disobeying our Lord. But Jesus can become dead to our minds if we refuse to listen to his wisdom. Our debates and excuses are foolish next to Jesus’ suffering death. We will plot to put him away, so we will remain safe in our own view of life.  
   Safety, though, is only in our Redeeming LORD God. David said it like this: Psalms 3:3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.
   Indeed, are you listening? Jesus answers your prayers and forgives your sins from the power of the “holy hill” on which he was killed. Through faith, he becomes your shield. He surrounds you all day and all night long because he is LORD of heaven and earth. He is Savior, Redeemer. He is the Great Passover Lamb, slain in shame for his glory and fame forevermore. 

Mark 6:30-32 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 
 
DO you get busy? Of course you do. Everyone has reasons to be busy. Jesus and his disciples did, too. They had been quite busy teaching and preaching God’s Word, baptizing people, healing physical diseases and cleansing people of demonic possession. They had to respond to large crowds pressing in on them. What should they do?
   Jesus tells them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” This is a loving, compelling invitation from our Lord. That’s a great idea, isn’t it? Or is it? Should Jesus and his disciples who had the ability to do so many wonderful works stop to rest? After all, there are diseases to heal and souls to save. Preaching must be done. How could Jesus tell them to stop?
   Jesus could advise the stopping because they needed to prepare for their next “going”. To effectively minister, the apostles needed physical rest and spiritual renewal. After all God created the body to rest every day. And God created the soul to seek him every day. Rest is time well spent, so you will have strength to work.
   If you respond, “I’m too busy to be quiet and rest. I’m too busy to take time for God’s Word.” then think about this: The Bible teaches, “No, you’re not. Jesus needed rest in his humanity. So do you.”
   “Jesus told the disciples to take a break. He knew their weaknesses. There is only so much a person can do physically and spiritually; then the body needs rest and the soul needs refreshment. As if it were a new discovery, sports physiologists and motivational experts now preach the wisdom of hard work, then adequate rest. People who hope to accomplish big goals need this healthy rhythm for success and stamina. Rest allows time for reflection, meditation, conversation, reading, and prayer.
   “In all your work, take a little time to dream. Walk in the woods. Stare at the stars. Count your blessings. Sing a prayer of praise where only God can hear.” (from The Life Application Commentary Series)
 
Pause and consider good rest helps you know God’s good care.
 

Mark 6:24-27 She went out and said to her mother, Herodias, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison.
 
WHEN people say, “Crime doesn’t pay.” They should add, “Crime destroys.”
   Think about Herodias. She harbored a great hatred for John the Baptist because he preached against her adulterous crime with Herod. Her evil heart wanted John silenced, so her sin would be “hidden” in the inner chambers of Herod’s court. And then consider her daughter. Herod had promised her half of his kingdom because we was so entranced with her dancing. Herodias and her daughter could have become quite wealthy. But what did they want? John’s head on a platter. All they received was a moment’s gratification of their hateful passions.
   Sin’s hold on Herodias and Herod remind us of God’s warning to Cain: Genesis 4:7a “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Sin had mastered Herod’s court. And he, as Cain, was ultimately banished into shame.
   It’s easy to judge this completely corrupt trio. Jesus, though, warns we all may be guilty of murder: Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” The root meaning of raca is “to spit”. This is utter contempt for someone. To kill someone physically or even emotionally violates God’s law that commands, “Love God and love others as yourself.”  
   Jesus the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preached that what we think and say matters a great deal. Our words can “murder” a person’s value. A vengeful rebuke or a critical thought will perhaps satisfy your desire to hurt or even destroy someone emotionally. But then what? Will you remain satisfied? Or will a heart hungry for vengeance seek another victim?
   How different life could have been for Herod. He could have listened to John’s words he liked to hear (Mark 6:20). In response to Herodias’ murderous request, he could have said, “Enough! Free the man!” He could even had imprisoned Herodias and her daughter for their evil plot. If people objected, his absolute rule would have silenced them. But he abdicated his throne to sin. His passions possessed him as sin had possessed Cain.
   In Christ Jesus, you have the power to say, “Enough!” to sin. When you have Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit is your power to banish evil from your door. Sin cannot have you when Jesus has you.