The Resurrected Man

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
• Hymn — Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Westminster Larger Catechism, Q&A 87
• Scripture Reading — Acts 13:26-39
• Pastoral Prayer
• Hymn — Worship Christ the Risen King
• Sermon
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: The Resurrected Man

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

I. A Foolish Man in the Eyes of the World

A. Mark consistently highlights the women as faithful witnesses throughout the passion narrative

1. Women observed the crucifixion from a distance (Mark 15:40)
2. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus was laid (Mark 15:47)
3. Women return to anoint Jesus three days later — a pure act of devotion, not necessity, since Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had already anointed the body with nearly 75 pounds of spices (John 19:38-42)

B. Women as eyewitnesses is culturally scandalous

1. In first-century Jewish culture, women were second-class citizens; their testimony was inadmissible in court
2. God deliberately chose foolish and despised witnesses to shame the wise

C. The Alexamenos graffito (late 2nd–early 3rd century) illustrates the world's contempt for worshipping a crucified man

D. The resurrection vindicates the foolishness of God over the wisdom of the world

1. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 — God chose what is foolish, weak, and low to bring to nothing the things that are
2. The pressure to make Christianity respectable to a fallen world runs contrary to what the resurrection declares

II. A Faultless Man in the Eyes of God

A. The angel's words are precise: he who was crucified is risen — not merely he who died

1. Both Jewish (Sanhedrin) and Roman (Pilate) authorities publicly condemned Jesus as a guilty criminal
2. The resurrection is God's vindication that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be — the Son of God

B. The resurrection declares Christ's identity and righteousness

1. Romans 1:4 — declared to be the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead
2. Christ's resurrection vindicates all of his words and ministry; rejection of his word is now condemnation, not merely disagreement

C. The resurrection declares Christ's sacrifice accepted before God

1. Deuteronomy 21:23 — one who hangs on a tree is cursed by God
2. Galatians 3:13 — Christ became a curse for us
3. The resurrection is God's declaration that the sacrifice was spotless, pure, and sufficient — the faultless offering received in the Holy of Holies on our behalf

D. The resurrection as new creation light

1. Darkness covered the earth from the sixth to the ninth hour as the curse of sin fell on Christ
2. Mark notes the resurrection occurred on the first day of the week when the sun had risen — deliberately echoing Genesis 1:3, "Let there be light"
3. The resurrection inaugurates a new, spotless creation as the darkness of sin gives way to resurrection light
4. The early Christians worshipping in the Roman catacombs — surrounded by death — sang O Gladsome Light, celebrating the new resurrection light of Christ

III. A Forgiving Man in the Eyes of Sinners

A. Christ's resurrection ministry begins again in Galilee — the region of sinners

1. Matthew 4:12-17 quotes Isaiah 9:1-2 — Galilee of the Gentiles, the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light
2. Just as Jesus began his earthly ministry among sinners in Galilee, so he begins his resurrection ministry there — resurrection light comes first to those dwelling in darkness

B. The angel's specific mention of Peter is significant

1. The last scene of Peter in Mark's Gospel is his three-fold denial — cursing and disowning Christ
2. Peter was the chief sinner, dwelling under guilt and the shadow of death
3. The angel singles Peter out: tell his disciples, and Peter — the risen King specifically summons the one most crushed by guilt and shame

C. The resurrection is a word of forgiveness to sinners

1. Christ meets sinners in the region of their darkness, filth, guilt, and shame
2. To those burdened by guilt and rendered silent before God — the risen King declares: you are forgiven
3. To the believer held captive by sin — the resurrection light shines anew with the same declaration
4. To the unbeliever dwelling in darkness — the resurrected Christ calls: come and be forgiven; come and bask in resurrection light