Defying Expectations at the King’s Burial & Resurrection
‘Defying Expectations at the King’s Burial & Resurrection’ – Mark 15.40-16.8
Intro: 1 Pet 2.18 & Rom 5.6-9.
I. The Unexpected Choice of Women Witnesses (Mark 15.40-41, 47; Mark 16.1)
Who are these women? Mary Magdalene – Lk 8.2; Jn 19.25-27.
That they’re still there, what’s it say about them?
Why are they important to the story?
What’s so unexpected about God’s choice to first use women witnesses?
What’s it say about God’s use of you? See 1 Cor 1.27-29, 31.
II. The Unexpected Man Connected to Christ’s Burial that Confirms His Death ( Mark 15.42-47)
Verse 42 – Time is of the essence (Dt 21.22-23; Ex 12.6).
Why is Joseph such an unexpected & unlikely man to act for Jesus?
Also consider Lk 23.50-51; Mt 27.57; Nicodemus too – Jn 19.38-42.
Joseph’s bold request is risky business. Why?
Verses 44-45 – What’s emphasized is that Jesus is in fact dead.
Verse 46 – They honor Jesus in preparing His body for burial (Jn 19.40-42; Jn 11.44).
What’s so special about Jesus’ tomb? It’s His alone & fulfills Isaiah 53.9.
How does Joseph’s identification with the condemned corpse of Jesus apply to us?
See Mark 8.34-38 & Rom 8.16-17.
How wonderful that Jesus also came to save sinners who are rich rulers.
III. The Unexpected Empty Tomb that Confirms the Resurrection (Mark 16.1-8)
Is this a noble deed of great devotion or maybe not?
Jesus predictions – Mark 8.31; 9.31; 10.33-34. Jesus’ earlier anointing – Mark 14.3-9.
Verse 4 – Mt 28.2-3 – an earthquake, provoked by an angel, rolled away
the stone.
Verse 5 – A surprise guest greets them, an angel in human form (Mt 28.2-5).
Of course, they’re alarmed, terrified, frightened, etc.
Verse 6 – The angel knows why they’re there, and tells them why
Jesus isn’t (Jn 20.6-7 – grave clothes).
Consider the situation from the women’s perspective. You need an explanation by divine revelation to interpret the event, which matches up to previous prophecy – Ps 16; 22; Isa 53 & Jesus’ earlier Word (Mark 16.7; Mark 14.28).
What’s the most reasonable explanation for the missing body?
Verse 7 – Why is Peter singled out? See Mark 14.66-72.
Verse 8 – What a shocking set of emotions for the first human witnesses.
Yet isn’t this the response that you should expect in this situation?
I believe Mark originally ended at v. 8. How is it perfectly fine for Mark to end with v. 8?
By Mark leaving us unsettled in the end, what’s he directing us to do?
Conclusion: How transformative is Christ’s resurrection for us believers.
God defies our expectations with the events surrounding the King’s burial &
resurrection.
What’s the word for those who don’t yet believe in the Lord Jesus? Romans 10.9.
Defying Expectations at the King’s Burial & Resurrection
‘Defying Expectations at the King’s Burial & Resurrection’ – Mark 15.40-16.8
Intro: 1 Pet 2.18 & Rom 5.6-9.
I. The Unexpected Choice of Women Witnesses (Mark 15.40-41, 47; Mark 16.1)
Who are these women? Mary Magdalene – Lk 8.2; Jn 19.25-27.
That they’re still there, what’s it say about them?
Why are they important to the story?
What’s so unexpected about God’s choice to first use women witnesses?
What’s it say about God’s use of you? See 1 Cor 1.27-29, 31.
II. The Unexpected Man Connected to Christ’s Burial that Confirms His Death ( Mark 15.42-47)
Verse 42 – Time is of the essence (Dt 21.22-23; Ex 12.6).
Why is Joseph such an unexpected & unlikely man to act for Jesus?
Also consider Lk 23.50-51; Mt 27.57; Nicodemus too – Jn 19.38-42.
Joseph’s bold request is risky business. Why?
Verses 44-45 – What’s emphasized is that Jesus is in fact dead.
Verse 46 – They honor Jesus in preparing His body for burial (Jn 19.40-42; Jn 11.44).
What’s so special about Jesus’ tomb? It’s His alone & fulfills Isaiah 53.9.
How does Joseph’s identification with the condemned corpse of Jesus apply to us?
See Mark 8.34-38 & Rom 8.16-17.
How wonderful that Jesus also came to save sinners who are rich rulers.
III. The Unexpected Empty Tomb that Confirms the Resurrection (Mark 16.1-8)
Is this a noble deed of great devotion or maybe not?
Jesus predictions – Mark 8.31; 9.31; 10.33-34. Jesus’ earlier anointing – Mark 14.3-9.
Verse 4 – Mt 28.2-3 – an earthquake, provoked by an angel, rolled away
the stone.
Verse 5 – A surprise guest greets them, an angel in human form (Mt 28.2-5).
Of course, they’re alarmed, terrified, frightened, etc.
Verse 6 – The angel knows why they’re there, and tells them why
Jesus isn’t (Jn 20.6-7 – grave clothes).
Consider the situation from the women’s perspective. You need an explanation by divine revelation to interpret the event, which matches up to previous prophecy – Ps 16; 22; Isa 53 & Jesus’ earlier Word (Mark 16.7; Mark 14.28).
What’s the most reasonable explanation for the missing body?
Verse 7 – Why is Peter singled out? See Mark 14.66-72.
Verse 8 – What a shocking set of emotions for the first human witnesses.
Yet isn’t this the response that you should expect in this situation?
I believe Mark originally ended at v. 8. How is it perfectly fine for Mark to end with v. 8?
By Mark leaving us unsettled in the end, what’s he directing us to do?
Conclusion: How transformative is Christ’s resurrection for us believers.
God defies our expectations with the events surrounding the King’s burial &
resurrection.
What’s the word for those who don’t yet believe in the Lord Jesus? Romans 10.9.