The Last Enemy Defeated
David Cawston
Mark 16:1-20
Introduction
Think a few a moments with me and let's go into some honest introspection. Has the memory of previous failure, ever immobilized you with fear from trying again? Are you frustrated and feeling inadequate or do you have a lack of energy, strength or intellect to face life's problems? Do you ever feel an insufficiency of inner resources to tackle the challenges and the opportunities life offers you?
With these questions I am sure we must gather the feelings of the disciples and followers of Jesus after the crucifixion. The cruel and excruciating cross had entered the most abundant life they'd ever seen. Death has cancelled hope and of course, if that could happen to the Master, then what hope did they have?
They had loved and lost. All the odds and fears rushed back into their lives to fill the void that had been left by the crucified Lord. Their hearts ached with grief and their bodies were racked with anguish.
There was nothing to do but to give Jesus a proper burial and remember what might have been.
Some of the women who followed Jesus made their way in the dim dawn on the first day of the week. As they trudged wearily towards the tomb of Joseph of Armethia, they asked one another the question, which further intensified their feelings. "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"
Who indeed?
The soldiers?
The frightened disciples?
It sounds like an expression of, what hope is there?
Do I have what it takes?
Should I even try?
The tomb reminds us of insurmountable barriers and obstacles of life. We all have them.
The way the women felt is sometimes the way many of us feel. For when they came to the tomb, they looked up with a startled wonderment.
The stone had been rolled away, but instead of faith, now was pessimism and grief.
Instead of looking at the possibility that He had risen, the scripture says they were alarmed.
Mark 16:5
5 An ...
David Cawston
Mark 16:1-20
Introduction
Think a few a moments with me and let's go into some honest introspection. Has the memory of previous failure, ever immobilized you with fear from trying again? Are you frustrated and feeling inadequate or do you have a lack of energy, strength or intellect to face life's problems? Do you ever feel an insufficiency of inner resources to tackle the challenges and the opportunities life offers you?
With these questions I am sure we must gather the feelings of the disciples and followers of Jesus after the crucifixion. The cruel and excruciating cross had entered the most abundant life they'd ever seen. Death has cancelled hope and of course, if that could happen to the Master, then what hope did they have?
They had loved and lost. All the odds and fears rushed back into their lives to fill the void that had been left by the crucified Lord. Their hearts ached with grief and their bodies were racked with anguish.
There was nothing to do but to give Jesus a proper burial and remember what might have been.
Some of the women who followed Jesus made their way in the dim dawn on the first day of the week. As they trudged wearily towards the tomb of Joseph of Armethia, they asked one another the question, which further intensified their feelings. "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"
Who indeed?
The soldiers?
The frightened disciples?
It sounds like an expression of, what hope is there?
Do I have what it takes?
Should I even try?
The tomb reminds us of insurmountable barriers and obstacles of life. We all have them.
The way the women felt is sometimes the way many of us feel. For when they came to the tomb, they looked up with a startled wonderment.
The stone had been rolled away, but instead of faith, now was pessimism and grief.
Instead of looking at the possibility that He had risen, the scripture says they were alarmed.
Mark 16:5
5 An ...
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