The Resurrection Of Christ (With A Message To Seekers) Mark 15:40-16:8 Right now, our four-year old grandson, Calvin, likes to play hide and go seek, as does his 2 ½ year-old sister Margo. Each game seems to take longer than expected. Their hearts are in the right place, they are eager to play the game, but they don’t look in right places (and they can get a bit sidetracked) so it takes a while. Sometimes I have to make noises to redirect them to where I’m at. We are going to see something similar in the passage today; those whose hearts that are in the right place, but as they seek Jesus, He isn’t where they are looking. The passage this morning is the account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. And when the women who have come to anoint His body with spices get to His tomb, He isn’t there. And if we were reading Luke, the angel at His tomb will ask these devoted followers, “Why are you seeking the living, among the dead?” “You’re looking in the wrong place.” The word seek is used throughout the Scriptures to describe a pursuit of something we desire, whether it’s good for us or not. For instance, the bride in the Song of Solomon says this in 3:2. “I must arise now and go about the city; in the streets and in the plazas. I must seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him but did not find him.” I don’t she gave up. But then there is Proverbs 23:35 where Solomon warns us about the dangers of overindulging in intoxicating beverage. “They struck me but I wasn’t hurt (I didn’t feel a thing). They beat me but I didn’t have a clue. When I wake up I will seek another drink.” When we read verses like these two, it’s good to ask ourselves: What am I seeking after in life? What are my goals? What treasure am I after? Love? Pleasure? Am I only seeking the things in creation, or am I seeking the Creator. The word seek is often applied to those who want to know God, serve Him, honor Him, do His will. Look at these verses. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.” Psalm 34:10 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Without faith it’s impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exist and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 The word seek also shows up in today’s passage, and it has to do with the risen Christ. So as we consider Jesus’ resurrection, I also want us to think about the angel’s message to these seekers at His empty tomb and how it applies to us. Last Sunday we read about Jesus’ death on the cross and what He wore, what He said, what happened when He died. Not only were Roman soldiers, a centurion, and Jewish chief priests and scribes at the cross; some women, who followed Jesus, were there as well – and close by was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin. Let’s read on in Mark 15. There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. 42 When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. 45 And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid. Mark 15:40-47 Here’s what we’re told about Joseph in the four gospels. He is from Arimathea. We are not sure where this is located. It may be the Old Testament town of RamathaiM-zophiM, which is northwest of JerusaleM. It’s where the prophet Samuel lived. Joseph is a prominent member of the Sanhedrin. These are the religious leaders of the Jewish nation. Matthew tells us in his gospel that he is rich. Now, wealth can be a spiritual hazard, but it is not for Joseph, he’s waiting for the kingdom of God. Luke writes that Joseph is a good and righteous man who had not consented to the plan to crucify Jesus. Both Matthew and John let us know that he was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews. But from what we read here, Joseph musters up the courage to go to Pilate and ask hiM for the body of Jesus. He then takes him down from the cross, wraps him in the burial cloths he bought for Him, and places Him in his tomb, a man-made cave. John tells us this tomb was in a garden and that Nicodemus was there helping Joseph with all that needed to be done with Jesus’ crucified body before rolling the stone in front of the opening. Do you consider yourself a spiritually courageous person? At times we are put in situations where we know we need to stand up for someone or some truth, and that means we might get ridiculed, or make someone angry, or get in trouble, or even get hurt. Joseph give us a lesson on courage. Pilate wasn’t someone to be messed with. He had already had it up to here with the Jewish leaders. And by asking for Jesus’ body, he knew he was probably in for dirty looks and death threats from the other members of the Sanhedrin. Spiritual courage may lie dormant at times, but I am convinced it will rise to the surface when needed. As Christians, we need to pay attention to the “Be strong and courageous” pep-talks the Lord gives to those who serve Him. Joshua needed to hear this message before he led the people of Israel into the land of Canaan. Timothy needed to hear the encouragement as he ministered without the company of the apostle Paul. Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, needed this reminder to be courageous when the temple was being rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity. The next time you feel timid in living out your faith in Christ before others, remember this truth that we are told over and over again in the Scriptures. “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” Take a look at our text again. A handful of women were also at the cross; Jesus’ mother Mary, Salome, the mother of John and James (Matthew 27:56), and Mary Magdalene. We are told that Jesus cast seven demons out of Mary and that she was a loyal follower of His. The other well-known Mary in the New Testament is Mary, the sister of Martha, who sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He had to say. I’ve said it before, but if you have the name of Mary in Bible, you hit the jackpot. These women are not just at the cross on Friday, they are at Jesus’ tomb on Sunday. And as we read the opening verses of Mark 16, we will see how Mary, Mary, and Salome are living proof that good things come to those who seek Him. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are seeking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.