Mark 16:1-6 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. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
Many of you have seen how I have marked up the study Bible I’ve used since college and I’d like to share with you one of it’s pages.
I believe Mark was the first gospel written. I believe Matthew, Luke and John knew of Mark and used Mark’s gospel as a pattern or template for how they told the story of Jesus. This is what I have noted in my bible:
On Easter Sunday, I was reminded of something I hadn’t noticed before. Pastor Levi Lusko as Fresh Life church in Montana said this:
On the seventh day God created rest. That day seven rest was the final act of creation. God gave us rest on day seven to delight in what he had done. Now that original week was spoiled by sin which is why there is Covid19 in the world. Which is why there’s diseases and pain and cancer—because under the first Adam’s headship we who had control of this world took things in a very dark direction and chose to worship things as God instead of God as God.
Jesus came he came to do what the first Adam failed to do. In rising from the dead he proved he is capable of leading this planet in a way that honors God. That’s why it was in the garden [of Gethsemane] he chose not to do his will but to take up the cup and do what his Father had called him to do. That’s why when he died he chose to die and come back to life from death on the First Day of the Week—showing there is a man at the helm of the universe. A man who will honor his Father and lead us into a New Week. His action of rising was the beginning of a brand new week that will have no end, that will never be spoiled, that eventually ultimately will consummate in a brand new world.
All of the gospel writers picked up on the fact Mark reminds us of: Easter occurred on the first day of the week. They all say “early in the morning, on the first day of the week.” [Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:1] Jesus could have picked any day he wanted, but he intentionally chose to rise on the first day of the week. He had been planning this since… well, since forever. The day Jesus rose was the beginning of a brand new day [early in the morning], a brand new week [on the first day of the week], and a brand new era:
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ~2 Corinthians 5:17
The old original week of creation has been put aside with its Sabbath rules and regulations and laws, something new has begun!
If you are in Christ you are a New Creation. You live in a Creation being made New. You bring Newness wherever you go. The New Creation is always on your horizon. Two things come to mind. (1) Rejoice in this truth, in spite of any personal trial all who are in Christ are a New Creation and your home is in heaven. (2) Remove everything linked to your old creation. Your newly minted self is marked by holiness. Shake off the rust. (3) Remember, Jesus does not leave us as orphans. You have the Holy Spirit’s strength and help to remind you of his words:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ~John 14:1-3
May this bring you hope!
Hope will give you the power to embrace what you previously wished to escape. ~Levi Lusko
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