As we come to the reading of Mark's gospel chapter 16, beginning in verse 1 through 8, I'm so grateful for the gospels. When it comes to the time of the resurrection, the death, the trial of Christ, the gospels all slow down and then give a much needed amount of time to describing all that took place. In our lives, we rush through things so quickly, even a week like Holy Week, a celebration like Palm Sunday, the Monty Thursy Service in the Easter, this Holy Resurrection Sunday. I want to invite you this morning to slow down. I want you to think for a moment even of all the things you've seen this day already. What have your eyes seen? Good things, bad things? What is your mind thought? So many distractions, so many things. Some of you right now are still distracted by the argument you had with your spouse getting your children ready for church. Some of you are wondering if your hand will be burnt by the time you get home. Some of you are not distracted because I said the word ham. We can be distracted by so many things, but I want to invite you, all of you, the choir too, third time to hear this, my third time to preach, to listen and lean in and ask God that he would show us something new. We're going to be looking at the tomb. It's really why we come on Easter. It's to look at the tomb and to see that the tomb is empty, but we're looking at it through the eyes of three eyewitnesses, three women that saw from a distance, all that we are going to read about now. So again, Mark 16, beginning in verse 1. When the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salami bought spices so that they might go and annoyed him. And very early on, the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb, and they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb. And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back. It was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And they said to them, do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. And they went out and fled from the tomb for trembling and astonishment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please be seated. Father in heaven, we need your work in our lives. We need Holy Spirit for you to give us new sight. Even if we have heard this passage countless times, let us see and know what took place, where you are currently Jesus. And we might be transformed by this resurrection power that we have been singing about, hearing about praying for. We ask that you give it to us now. In Jesus name, amen. Many people struggle with the resurrection. It really is hard to believe. And you may be here today saying, I don't know if I believe in the resurrection or you might be saying I don't believe in the resurrection. But many here today do believe in the resurrection. And this time in which Mark wrote his gospel, women were largely marginalized. In fact, in the second century, many were spreading the rumors that this gospel couldn't be true because the eyewitnesses that Mark used were women. And because women are hysterical, their words not mine. This could not be true. I want you to understand something. Mark included these eyewitnesses because the Holy Spirit led him to include these witnesses as he was carried along writing this gospel. The fact that Mark included the witnesses in that they were women is significant because he knew that some people would simply discount it. But he included it because it was true. These three women were present at the death. They witnessed the resurrection in terms of the empty tomb. And we have much to learn as we look at their lives. If you brought your Bible, I want you to open it to Mark 16 and not just use the bulletin. If you didn't, there's a blue pew Bible in front of you. Please pull that out and share with one another because we're going to be looking at a couple of other places in the text and I think it's significant. I want you first to go to Mark, chapter 15. In Mark 15, we have the death of Jesus. In verse 38, it says, in the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the Centurion who stood facing him, that is Jesus and Jesus is on the cross, he saw that in this way, he breathed his last. The Centurion said, truly, this man was the son of God. So this Centurion is there looking at the dead body of Jesus hanging on the cross. Verse 40, we have an introduction to these three women that we just read about. There were also women looking on from a distance among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salami. When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him. And there are also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. So these three women, it says, we're looking on from a distance. We don't have the exact distance. It's not told in Scripture. And from a distance, these three women, Mary, Mary and Salami, are looking at the cross. And from a distance, they see Jesus on the cross and they see Jesus' body as he dies. In the next part of this story, Joseph of Arimathea comes in request that he could have the body. He has courage given to him and he goes to pilot and he asks for the body of Jesus. Verse 44, pilot surprised to hear that he should have already died. You might not know this, but when someone was killed by crucifixion, it was a long process, often days, ultimately usually dying in suffocation. The Christ died in just a few hours, not from suffocation, but from a heart that physically literally burst. So pilot was surprised to hear that Jesus had already died. Verse 44 continues, and pilot, some of the Centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. Now listen to the graphic language of verse 45. And when he learned from the Centurion that Jesus was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen shroud and taken him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in the tomb that had been cut out of the rock. I want you to go there. I want you to see it. There is a place on earth where this happened. There was a man named Joseph and there was these three women that witnessed it. And he went to a man named pilot and he said, can I have his body? I want to care for his body. I want to give his body a place to rest. He was dead. And these women saw the corpse. Sometimes we go so quickly through it that we forget to really consider the lived body detail of the passage. And these women saw Joseph take the body down. And the story continues in verse 47, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid. So from a distance, looking on from a distance, that's what these women saw. Looking on from a distance, they saw the physically dead body of Jesus. They saw his corpse. Now the next day, Mark tells us, verse 2, in chapter 16, very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. Now, imagine this. All that's happened. God the Father still sets the sun on its course. And as the sun is rising and going up these three women are moving towards the tomb of Jesus, I wonder what they're thinking. We don't know what all they said, but we do have one bit of their conversation and Mark gives it to us, verse 3. And they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? You see, they were there. Looking on from a distance, they saw Joseph take the body, the corpse of Jesus and put it inside the tomb. They then saw Joseph take the large, heavy stone and roll it across the entrance to the tomb. Now, imagine, inside the tomb is the light of the world, Jesus's own words. The light of the world is dead. The tomb is dark. The only light coming into the tomb is light that comes from outside. And now there is Joseph pushing the stone, rolling the stone against the covering of the tomb. And the light just gets darker and darker. These women saw the stone roll. And so while they're walking, carrying these heavy spices to preserve and prepare the body of Christ, they begin to talk. Who's going to move the stone for us? Perhaps they know their soldiers there that might. Maybe there'll be another man, but they're not expecting to see the disciples. Because no one is expecting the resurrection. These three ladies are not expecting Jesus to not be there. The disciples were not expecting the resurrection. And so here these women are going, having looked on from a distance, they saw the tomb, they knew where it was, they saw the stone cover the hole. And they begin to converse. How will we get the stone away from the opening? But then in verse 4 it says looking up. Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back. And it was very large. I want you to go there. This is a real story where three real women named eyewitnesses looking on from a distance they knew where the tomb was, they saw the stone roll over it, they suddenly get there. And what they see they didn't expect. The stone is removed. It's rolled away. They're looking up and as they look at the tomb, that's what they see. I wonder what they thought. We have no account. It doesn't tell us. But certainly they had to be thinking, who rolled the stone away? Who else is inside there? Who else has come? Has somebody stolen the body? Who knows what I was going through their minds? But as they looked up, they saw that the stone had rolled away. And now they begin to look in. And as they look into the dark tomb, knowing that they're about to enter in and see the body of Jesus, the enter in. And the one that they expect to see isn't there. Jesus is gone. His body is not present inside that tomb. And as they look in, verse 5 says they saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe and they were alarmed. Don't pass this so quickly. Remember, they're human beings. These three women in deep mourning are coming to see the one they love so much. They're coming to see the only perfect man who ever lived. The one who never got anything wrong, said anything wrong, did anything wrong, who they witnessed to all kinds of miracles. They're expecting to see his dead body there. And it's gone. Now wonder they're trembling and astonished. And then this man, the angel, begins to speak to them. Verse 6, first thing he says, do not be alarmed. He says that because they were. You seek Jesus of Nazareth. Listen to everybody says, do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth. Who was crucified? He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. And then he says, but go tell his disciples and Peter that he's going before you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you. You see the angels doing. These women didn't expect the resurrection. They expected to see the body of Christ just as they'd seen the day before as they looked on from a distance. But as they looked up and saw the stone rolled away and as they looked in, suddenly they see this angel. The angel's purpose is to reveal to them. God's revelation. God is again giving them revelation through this angel that this is what has happened. It's just as the Lord said it would be. And so as they hear this angel, as they look into the tomb and see this angel and hear his words, the angel essentially now is saying, look forward. So this one who was laid here, the one Jesus who was crucified, the one you seek, he is not here. He is risen. And he will meet you in Galilee. Look forward. You will see him. Go now until the disciples and Peter. Look forward. Verse 8 says, they went out and fled from the tomb for trembling an astonishment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid. These women, they looked on from a distance to the horror of the cross. They witnessed the corpse. Jesus's body being put in the tomb from a distance. They saw the stone cover the hole. The next day they come and they look up and they see that the tomb is open. They look and they see that Jesus is gone. The angel reveals to them. Oh, he's alive. He's risen. You'll see him in Galilee. Go tell the disciples. And they do. Now turn in your gospel over to Luke chapter 24. I want you to see the account of what happens when Jesus appears to the disciples. Verse 36 of Luke 24, the last chapter in Luke, as they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace to you. Now what happens to them? And remember, these are real people. And Jesus is really there. Jesus says peace to you. They were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet that it is I myself. Touch me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. So Jesus is there. The physical human Jesus 100% man 100% God is there. And they're freaking out. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet, the scars were just days before the nails had been. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, have you anything here to eat a spirit doesn't eat. And they gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took and he ate before them. Then he said this to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me and the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He essentially moved the stone from their minds that couldn't believe that couldn't see and their minds are open to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, thus it is written that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance and forgiveness of sin should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. And my friends, that message has been proclaimed. And it's the message that I am proclaiming to you today. Look on, look up, look in. Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes these events in 1 Corinthians 15. Don't turn there, but just listen as I read Paul writes, for I delivered to you as a first importance what I also received. That Christ died for our sins and accordance with the scriptures that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scripture. And that he appeared to see us then to 12. Now listen to this about eyewitnesses. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, the real Jesus, 100% man, 100% God with his scars and hands inside and feet. He appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, those some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles, last of all, is to one untimely born. He appeared also to me. Do you remember Paul, his road to Damascus when Christ appeared. He writes, for I am the lease of the Apostles unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by grace, the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace towards me was not in vain. And then Paul goes on to say this, please listen, lean in. Now Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead. How can some of you say that there is no reaction of the dead? He writes on, for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. And you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitted. In other words, what I am saying is a waste of time. What they have been playing and what this choir has done so beautifully three times this day and every Sunday is an absolute waste of time. You are wasting your life if when those women saw that tomb from a distance. And as they got closer and looked up and it was open and when they looked in that his body wasn't there, if Christ did not rise from the dead, this is all ridiculous. It is a waste of time and energy and thought and guilt. It is nothing but we are here because the tomb is empty. We are here as Christians because at some point in our lives as we looked on from a distance we got closer and closer and closer look. And then we looked up and then we looked into God's Word and someone began to share with us that He truly died on the cross and rose from the dead. And that is why we are here. That is why we believe. We don't believe it is foolishness. I want to be very honest. I want to be very gentle but strong for a moment. Some of you don't believe this. It is okay to be honest with where you are. Some of you don't believe it. You don't believe in Christ or if you believe in the historical Christ you don't believe in His resurrection. It is hard to believe. But I have a question for you. How long are you going to look on from a distance? How long are you simply going to keep coming to a church service like this to make someone like your mom or your dad or a grandparent or a sibling or a boyfriend or a coworker happy? How long will you simply look on from a distance? Have another question. Are you so confident in your reasons for disbelief? Are you so confident in your reasons for disbelief that you are willing to continue to look on from a distance and say it is not true? Many people don't believe in the resurrection of Christ but I think many people don't know why they don't really believe. They don't have real solid reasons for their disbelief. So I want to urge you to take advantage of a moment when you are hearing what I believe in the biblical writers testified to as a historical reality. I want to encourage you to move on from looking at the tomb from a distance and look up there to look up to God and say did it really happen? Are you real? Look up and look in. Look in God's holy word and see what it says. And if upon doing that you still come to the conclusion that there's no way Jesus died and rose from the dead then you may have reasons that convince you it's not true but if you don't believe and you don't have reasons for your disbelief that's so dangerous. This is the event that changed human history. It's worthy of your investment to not stay a distance and give your thoughts but instead to look closely because if it was true then what I'm about to say in the final five minutes of this sermon is the most amazing thing that any of us have ever heard. If you don't believe if you're just looking on from a distance please look up. Look in. See what the Lord is saying. May this be the day that you say I believe it might be it might be the beginning of the journey to another point when you will say I do believe but look in. Look up. Now for everyone here that has come this day because you believe that the resurrection of Christ happened at some point in your life you were looking on from a distance but now or then you looked up and then you looked in and you said I believe that Jesus is the way the truth in the life. He's the only one who can save me from my sins. He saved me. I believe in his death and I believe in his resurrection. This is what's for you. I would encourage you to look forward. Look forward to the day that you will have in the presence of God for all eternity perfection. You see there's a day coming the Bible tells us there's a day coming for all those who are in Christ that there will be no more hunger. No more tears no more thirst no more disease no more broken relationship no more broken vows no more broken hearts no more disappointments no more anxiety no more dirt and ugliness nothing but beauty and perfection. And those who are in Christ will experience that with resurrected brand new redeemed bodies that are far more glorious than what you and I can even imagine. You will have this physical body that is reborn re-new resurrected and for all eternity in the new heavens and the new earth you're going to experience the glory of God as you look forward in Christ you know that you are going to see the one who made you the one who hung on that cross for you. The one who rose from the dead for you the one who even now lives at rain and intercede on your behalf that's who you're going to see and we need to look forward to that day but here's the problem for many of us. The reason being passionate about Christ at worship regularly and giving our lives away to make this message known the reason it's often absent is because we too the work Christians are still looking at the tomb from a distance. We're letting the worries of this day in the pain of this day and the brokenness of this day keep our eyes turned inside us and we become consumed by the disease by the pain by the broken marriage by the rebellious child by the boredom of faith. And we look at the tomb from a distance my friends what we need to do especially if we believe in Christ is to look up to look in to see that the Lord and the power of the resurrection for those who are in Christ is in us right now those who are hidden in Christ are in fellowship with God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that's who you are. But the reason we battle so much the side of heaven with the reality of death with the reality of disease with the reality of brokenness is that we often forget as we distance ourselves from the empty tomb that there's more than this and every day we're consumed by the anxieties and worries of this life. My friends to the extent that you believe in the resurrection of Christ and all that awaits those are in Christ to the extent that you believe in the reality of that your life will be transformed this side of heaven to the extent that you look to him and know that this disease for a Christian is not the end that this broken relationship is not the end that this aging body is not the end. It will transform the way you journey this side of heaven my friends who are Christians look forward ask God that the vision of eternity would transform the way you live now one person comes to mind as I think about this promise of a renewed body. Many of you know who Johnny Erickson taught it is if you're younger you might not know who she is but when she was 17 years old like many of you here today she was with friends swimming in the ocean she took a dive and she hit a rock and the rock broke her neck and from 17 to this day she's a quadriplegic is lived in a wheelchair her entire life. She's gone on to do amazing things painting writing all sorts of things I had the privilege of meeting her in the early 90s because one of her close friends who was near her even during that those early days of her tragic accident Chuck Gerriot who spoke at my installation service six years ago he had her come to our church and I'll never forget looking at her. She was in a process of writing a book called heaven your real home and in that book she talks about what it's like to be in a wheelchair to be a Christian she says that one almost awkward places to be is in the church. And with Christians at conferences why because in her church tradition they have kneelers and those kneelers are pulled down every service at different times of the service and people kneel she can't kneel she stands out sitting in her wheelchair she said she was at a conference where thousands of people were present and those leading the worship urged people to kneel down and offer their praise to the Lord she looked out and saw all these people kneeling and just brought to her mind the idea that one day every knee is going to bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord but while they were all kneeling she couldn't kneel so she said she sit there and wept but these were not tears of sorrow for her accident. These were not tears of sorrow for the life that she's lived confined to this chair here's what she says sitting there I was reminded that in heaven I will be free. I will be free to jump up dance kick and do aerobics and sometime before the guests are called to the banquet table at the wedding feast of the lamb the first thing I plan to do on resurrected legs is to drop on grateful and glorified knees and I will quietly kneel at the feet of Jesus. Even a life this side of heaven confined to movement only here and above this woman looks forward forward to the day when that will not be the reality of her body. Oh my friends some of you have been paralyzed by an addiction some of you paralyzed by a relationship a marriage that seems so broken some of your paralyzed by different types of disease that are waging war against your body and you're dying we're all dying but for those who are in Christ the promise is that we have something to look forward to. And what we have to look forward to is this glorious body renewed but did you hear what she said dancing and jumping in the aerobics will be funny but what Johnny Erickson taught us most excited about is kneeling at the one she's going to see in his name is Jesus and he was the one who left that tomb is the stone rolled away. And he is the one that every Christian will see now if you are in Christ that's your future look up look and look forward but don't keep looking from a distance if you're not a Christian you're here today and you're still looking from a distance I'm so glad you're here but no where you stand I invite you. I invite you now stop looking on from a distance look up look in look in his holy word and ask him to reveal to you the truth of who Jesus is the risen Lord the one who is the way the truth and the life to his glory and our good amen.