Facing Resurrection

Albert Bogle October 08, 2026 2 2

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

Mark 16: 1–8 (NIVUK)

1 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. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”’

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

In our scripture reading this morning, we are faced with the dilemma of the gospel story as it unfolds in the hearts and minds of men and women down through the ages. To believe this story is to transform our perspective on life itself. It is an invitation to hope for the future after death—not simply hope that this might be true, but to have hope that because this is true, our lives have a dimension that is inexplicably linked into an eternal relationship with Jesus and each other. In John 14:19, Jesus says, "Because I live, you will live also."

Now, the point of this reading is to highlight that many scholars think that in the early manuscripts it looks like the writer intended to finish the resurrection account abruptly. In other words, on a cliffhanger: simply saying the tomb’s empty, there is a mysterious messenger telling you in a matter-of-fact way what would you expect from Jesus — he’s risen. Now, do you believe?

Personal Reflection: Read the last sentence again - So what do you expect from Jesus? Speak it out loud!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

When I feel down,

Forlorn and feel the world is against me,

When all my hope is gone,

When I have days like my world is falling apart,

The story of the two Marys and Salome

Connect me with the sorrow of the ages

And the grief and turmoil of the soul.

Tears can be the flame of hope that lights up the darkness.

I find myself looking into an empty grave

And I hear my voice say the words of Psalm 42:11:

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

And I lift the phone and tell a friend in so many different ways:

There is hope.

In the midst of all my doubts,

Angels fill empty spaces —

God’s messengers of hope.