February 24, 1999

EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
Jesus still turns followers'
tragedies into triumphs
___ Mark 15:25-26, 33-39, 46; 16:2-7
___By Dillard Wilbanks
___ Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth
___It's Friday but Sunday's coming! The tragedy of his crucifixion appeared to be the last chapter in the life of Jesus. In only three days, seeming tragedy would emerge as triumph.
___ Jesus' crucifixion and death (Mark 15:25-26, 33-36; 15:37-39). The cross upon which Jesus was hung dropped into place at 9 a.m. Above it hung the charge for which he was crucified, "The King of the Jews." In six agonizing hours he would die rather than disown this royal title.
___Death would come at 3 p.m. It was preceded by his lonely cry, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" This quote is from David at a time when he felt alone but was by no means actually forsaken (Psalm 22). Up to now Jesus had gone through every experience of life except one. In his sinlessness he had never known the consequence of sin. The most tragic of sin's consequences is separation from God. At that moment of total identity with our humanity he experienced for the first time that agony of separation.
___Even in this darkest hour Jesus could confidently address the God of this universe as "My God." His death on Calvary bought for every Christian this same confidence in our time of deepest despair.
___ Jesus' burial (Mark 15:46). The Jewish Sabbath would begin at 6 p.m. At that hour all work must cease. The three hours following his death left little time for burial. Joseph immediately and boldly requested from Pilate the release of his body. As a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph never spoke one word in Jesus' favor. This one who was silent when Jesus was alive gave him a tomb in his death. The cross of Jesus did for both the Centurion and Joseph what not even his life could do.
___ Jesus' resurrection (Mark 16:2-7). Because the Sabbath had intervened, there was not time to anoint the body of Jesus prior to burial. At first light on Sunday morning the three women arrived to render this service. They did not come expectantly. Rather, they were stressed about the heavy stone and saddened to pay their last respects to a dead body.
___Upon arrival they found the stone rolled away and a messenger who announced that Jesus had risen from the dead. The Jesus who was crucified on Friday had left an empty tomb on Sunday. The messenger instructed these women to go and tell the disciples and Peter to meet him in Galilee. This reunion would fulfill his earlier promise that he would precede them to Galilee after he had risen (14:28).
___The singling out of Peter was important to him.To him it seemed, also, life after death. God's love sent a special message because of special sin. His love still singles out sinful individuals by name and loves every single one with a distinct love. He also forgives in response to brokenness and repentance. Jesus' resurrection remains as the New Testament standard of power. Nothing less could have changed sad and despairing men and women into radiant and courageous Christians. Belief with the intellect never produces such a radical change.
___Belief with the heart does. To "believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead" brings salvation. It also produces radically changed attitudes and actions. When we so radiate the resurrected life of Jesus we, too, will "go tell" his message.

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