Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Easter Sunday

Scripture: Mark 16: 1-8    April 5, 2026

Message: “Fear not!”

By Pastor George Gnade

Play to Listen

7:05

Introduction: 1. Today we are going to study the story of the resurrection based on Mark 16. 

a. In Mark 15, we are told of some of the women who watched where Jesus was buried. But they could not do anything themselves because it was late in the day and the Passover was about to begin.

b. But after resting on the Sabbath, we are told in Mark 16 that they returned to anoint the body of Jesus.

2. They saw Joseph of Arimathea anoint Jesus with spices at the time Jesus was buried. But they wanted to show their love for Jesus too. I like to think of their desire to anoint Him as a token of their love, kind of like we do by bringing flowers to a funeral or flowers to put on a grave. 

3. But as they approached the grave site, they expressed their fear that the stone which had been rolled in front of the grave was too heavy for them to move. They asked each other, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”

A. Did you ever want to do something for the Lord but didn’t know how you could do it?

1. It reminds me of Jesus’ discussion about removing mountains. Throughout the ages, Christians have often been faced with problems too big for them to handle.

2. But Jesus taught us if we had faith like a grain of mustard seed we could say to this mountain: “Be removed.” And God would honor our faith.

a. In vs. 4, we are told that God had gone ahead of the ladies and “when they looked up, they saw the stone, which was very large, had (already) been rolled away.”

b. Has God ever gone ahead of you and removed an obstacle that stood in your way? When Jesus does this for us, it just creates a good feeling inside of us.

B. But the ladies had no idea what was going to happen next!

1. Mark 16: 5, it says: “As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.”

a. Other gospels tell us there were actually two angels present. Mark was simply zeroing in on the speaker.

b. We know from the other gospels that these men dressed in white were angels. This scared them more than what they had originally expected.

2. If the stone had not been rolled away, soldiers who “had sealed the stone” probably would not have even let them get inside.

a. But when an earthquake occurred and the angels descended and rolled away the stone, even the guards were so terrified that they fled.

b. And the reason God sent the angels was not to guard the tomb and keep people out, but to guard the tomb so people like these women could get in!

3. God sent the angels and God sent the women so everyone might know the truth of the resurrection.

a. In fact, that is exactly what the angel said to them. In vs. 6, he said: “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen! See the place where they laid Him.” 

b. Jesus would soon appear to them and others. But first things first. First they had to see the empty tomb! And Jesus gave this privilege to the women who had so faithfully followed Him.

4. Think about it! The disciples would never have gone. They were scared to death. But in those days, the women were considered as nobodies. The women could go where others feared to tread.

a. Ladies, God can use you in ways and places where men can not go. 

b. Your testimony to the love and grace of God can change hearts that would be closed to a minister.

So God often sends you first.

5. Remember how five missionaries, all men, had gone to the Auca Indians and were immediately slaughtered. But when the Lord encouraged two of their family members to go in their place, these women were received and used of God to bring about a great revival.

6. In Mark 16: 7, the women were told to go tell “the disciples and Peter that He is going ahead of you into Galilee and there you will see Him.”

C. Please notice the special attention given to Peter.

1. Yes, all the disciples needed to know. But they also needed to know Jesus had not given up on Peter.

a. Mary Magdalene went to tell Peter and John who ran ahead of her to see for themselves.

b. And after they left the tomb, Jesus revealed Himself to Mary. After Mary, the next person He saw was Peter. First He saw him privately. Later He would see him with the other disciples.

2. That is also a good lesson for us.

a. Sometimes we are better off talking to someone privately to encourage them to get back closer to the Lord before we see them publically and embarrass them.

b. Many godly people have made mistakes they are sorry for, but need help to find their way back into the fold. That was true of Peter.

D. Finally, in Mark 16: 8, we are told that the women were so scared by the resurrection and appearance of the angels that “they fled from the tomb and said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”

1. Many scholars believe that this is the end of the book. Mark 16: 9 – 20 seems like an addition to provide an ending. Or possibly the real ending was lost. Let me share a few insights that may be of help.

a. First of all, Mark often left details out because this was the first gospel and he was trying to protect those who might be in danger if he said too much. It is possible he didn’t want to get these ladies in trouble. 

b. Remember, the disciples were hiding out of fear for the Jewish leaders. Mark himself had fled when Jesus was arrested. So the initial reaction of the women was “to say nothing to anyone” because they didn’t know who could be trusted.

c. Let me compare it to the shepherds who saw the baby Jesus and went out telling everyone. The women at the empty tomb were already told to tell the disciples. But you can understand if their first reaction to the resurrection was to not tell anybody else until they knew more.

2. Clearly they did tell the disciples and they even saw Jesus. And it would not be long before the word got out to all the believers. And Jesus did appear to over 500 at once in Galilee, just as He promised.

In conclusion:  1. Regardless of whether these last verses are part of the original text does not change the fact that this ending to the book includes many beautiful verses. 

2. In Mark 16:15, it shares how Jesus said to them: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  That is the great commission, similar to Matt. 28: 19-20. That is our job until Jesus comes again. Praise the Lord we are getting closer and closer to His return. May God help us to do our part.