“HE HAS RISEN! HE IS NOT HERE.

” (Outline)
April 12, 2020 - Easter Sunday - MARK 16:1-8

INTRO.: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! It is just as Scripture

declared. Once again a message from an angel announces one of the most
significant events in the history of the world. The last time an angel spoke was to
announce the fulfillment of Scripture. The Savior was born! "Do not be afraid. For
behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the
town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord” (LUKE 2:10, 11).
The angel’s Easter announcement is our theme. “HE HAS RISEN! HE IS NOT
HERE”. I. A sad journey. II. A glad journey.

I. A SAD JOURNEY TO THE TOMB

A. Verse 1. The woman were about the only ones left when Jesus died. The
disciples had left.
1. Now they wasted no time to properly prepare Jesus’ body to rest in the
tomb.
2. They bought spices (in Greek is aroma). It was a sense of duty. Duty of
love for Jesus.
B. Verse 2. Went to tomb on first day of the week. Went very early in morning.
Started in dark.
C. Verse 3. Naturally they focused on the earthly logistics of their visit to Jesus’
tomb.
1. The women wondered about the stone that covered the entrance of the
tomb.
2. Who will roll the stone away? How will they be able to get in to apply the
spices?
3. Verse 4. They looked. Large stone was rolled away. Problem solved.
Still sadness ruled.

D. How often do we think like these women? We focus on the sadness. We only
think about all the effort involved with solving our situation. We plan. We struggle.
We try to figure out how we will succeed. We might even worry. “Who will roll the
stone away from the entrance to the tomb for us?” Sooner or later we might just
give up. We might think everything we want to accomplish is just too hard. Too
difficult. Even impossible. Then we remember that all things are possible with God.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”
(PROVERBS 3:5). We probably cannot count the number of times the Lord has
worked out everything according to his perfect plans for us. God’s good plans done
for us even in spite of all of our energies. he stone is rolled away. Problems solved.

E. We are in the midst of an illness described as a pandemic. Everyone wonders

what really the truth is. Our leaders have taken extreme measures in the name of
protection. People are quarantined. Jobs have been lost. Businesses are closed.
Satan uses this chaos to attack. The devil uses doubt to cloud our confidence in
God’s providence. The world wants us to worry about what might or might not
happen. Our sinful natures frets about our future. Can it get worse? Will it ever get
any better? We turn our attention to the Lord. The One who cares. Saves. "They
went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to die!’ He said to them,
‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the
sea, and there was a complete calm" (MATTHEW 8:25, 26). “Lord, save us!”

F. Each one of us has made a sad journey in our lives. We make the journey to the
cemetery. Our emotions flood our thinking. Sadness tries to sap our strength.
Dear friends we know that the end of earthly life is not the end. Today all too many
people look at death as frightening. Many are scared to death of death. They think
it is the end. At death they enter into darkness. Nothingness. We pass from death
unto life eternal. Our sad journey is not a trip into despair. Or hopelessness.
"Those who sow with weeping will reap with joyful shouts. The one who walks along
weeping, carrying a bag of seed to sow, will come back again with joyful shouts,
carrying his sheaves” (PSALM 126:5, 6).

We journey to Jesus’ tomb. It was a sad journey. “HE HAS RISEN! HE IS NOT
HERE.”

II. A GLAD JOURNEY FROM THE TOMB

A. The women rush to the tomb early in the morning. They want to finish their sad
duty of love.
1. The large stone is rolled away. That problem is gone. But what now!?!
Who did this?
2. Verse 5. In the tomb sat a young man dressed in white. “They were
alarmed.”
B. Verse 6. Angel assured them: “Do not be alarmed”. Heavenly beings reassure
mortals.
1. Knew their sad journey. They sought Jesus, the Nazarene, who was
crucified.
2. More assurance: “He has risen! He is not here.” The tomb was empty.
Jesus was alive!
C. Verse 7. The women came to see. Found an empty tomb. Now they were to go
and tell.
1. Tell disciples and Peter. Peter last saw Jesus when he had denied the
Savior. Tell him.
2. It was a simple message: “He has risen! He is not here.” Just as Jesus
had told them.
3. Verse 8. They left in a hurry. They were still troubled. Perplexed. Was it
really true?
a. They did tell the disciples. b. Theirs was now a message of gladness,
not sadness.

D. The miraculous message of Jesus’ resurrection is simple, straightforward, and

very, very powerful. “He has risen! He is not here.” First the angel calmed the
fears of the women. Next the angel banished the sadness of the women. The truth
of that first Easter message is still ours today. With the same bold announcement
of the empty tomb our fears are calmed. Our sadness becomes gladness. We look
to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saddened by his death. We are gladdened by his
resurrection from the dead. Amazing grace. “…  and it (God’s grace) has now been
revealed through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 TIMOTHY 1:10).
Christ abolished death. We are given life and immortality.
E. “He has risen! He is not here.” This is our focus today. And tomorrow. And
into eternity. We need to look beyond this life. This world. Look through the
sadness that seems to be afflicting everyone recently. The corona virus is on
everyone’s minds. No one can escape the relentless mentioning of this virus day
and night from every news source. It is about the only news that anyone hears
again and again and again. Ought we to be scared? Terrified? The Lord God of
Armies is still in control of all things. All the time. Always for our good. We will
leave this vale of tears. In God’s good time. At that time we will fully understand
the depth and truth of the announcement: “He has risen! He is not here.” “But
once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put
on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in
victory" (1 CORINTHIANS 15:54). We put on mortality. Christ conquered death.
Christ gives us the victory!

F. “He has risen! He is not here.” This is the comforting message of joy that
chases away sadness. In gladness we know, believe and confess that the blood of
Jesus purifies us from sin. We are forgiven by God’s great love for us. And for the
world. “Jesus Christ, the Righteous One…is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and
not only for ours but also for the whole world" (1 JOHN 2:2). Sadly, all too many
are unaware of Easter’s importance. By grace through faith we have this truth in
our hearts. In our lives.

CONC.: “He has risen! He is not here.” The journey to the tomb was sad. The
tomb was empty. “He has risen! He is not here.” Our journey from the tomb
brings gladness to our hearts. For our lives. To benefit others. “Now may the God
of hope fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (ROMANS 15:13). The God of
hope will fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe “HE HAS
RISEN! HE IS NOT HERE.” Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer

EASTER SUNDAY rdgs: JONAH 2:2-9; COLOSSIANS 3:1-4; MATT. 28:1-10; (PSALM
118)
SERVICES: 7:45am @ McCook (SUN) / 10:00am @ Redeemer (SUN) / NCF 1:00 Min. (SAT) & 12:00
Med. (SUN)
BIBLE STUDIES: 11:15am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 5:45pm (Med) + 7:30pm (Min) @ NCF (TUES.)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:00am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM