The Empty Tomb: Mark 16: 1-8; various texts

The Empty Tomb

Mark 16:1-8; Various Texts

 

The Joy of the Resurrection

• Part of Jesus’ mission was to impart His joy to those who trust in Him (John 15:11; 17:13)
• Jesus went to the Cross because of joy (Heb. 12:2)
• Joy is rooted in perspective
  • It is not happiness, which is based upon circumstances
  • Joy sees beyond the immediate to the final outcome
    • For Jesus, the final outcome was eternity with us

 

The Hope of the Empty Tomb

• Hope is deeply connected to joy (Rom. 12:12)
• Hope is the confident expectation that God is working out everything for our good (Rom. 8:28)
• The Empty Tomb represents hope
  • Because Jesus is alive, we have real hope that in Him we can have real, eternal life
    • This comes through faith in Him
    • And in His death and victory (1 John 5:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:54-57)

 

So What?

• Because Jesus is alive, we can have joy to move through every hardship of life
• Because Jesus is alive, we can have hope that God is working through everything for our good
• Because Jesus is alive, we can have real live now and forever
• Do you believe that He is alive?!

 

 

Meditation Verse: Revelation 1:17b-18