“And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were afraid. And he said unto them, Be not afraid: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here.”
(Mark 16:5-6)
The sunrise on that Sunday morning broke with exceptional brilliance as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest on Friday evening. They came with spices to anoint His body, expecting the grim reality of decay to have begun. Their only concern was a practical one … who would roll away the massive stone sealing the tomb’s entrance? But upon arrival, they encountered a scene that shattered their expectations. The stone was already rolled aside, and inside the tomb, they found no body. Only the linen cloths that had once wrapped Jesus, now discarded, and a young man in a long white garment seated calmly to one side.
Their hearts raced with fear and confusion, but the angelic visitor spoke words of divine comfort: “Do not be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.” The angel urged them not to linger, commanding, “Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee: there shall you see him, just as he told you” (Mark 16:7).
What the women did not yet fully grasp was the significance of this event. God would not allow His holy One to see corruption in a tomb (Ps. 16:10). It was necessary for Christ to be buried after His crucifixion, to taste death fully for those He came to save. He bore the sting of death and the weight of God’s wrath, satisfying the infinite holiness that demanded justice for sin. Every aspect of His suffering—His death, burial, and descent into the grave—was essential to fulfill the curse of sin completely.
Yet it was equally necessary for Him to rise, for a dead Savior cannot redeem. His resurrection was the divine declaration that death was conquered, sin’s penalty paid, and the path to glory restored. Jesus returned from His state of humiliation to the uncompromised glory He shared with the Father before the world began, proving His deity and securing our hope. Without the resurrection, the cross would be incomplete; together, they form the cornerstone of our salvation.
Each New Testament writer records this resurrection narrative with unwavering conviction, not as myth but as historical fact.[1] Jesus appeared to His disciples multiple times, leaving no room for doubt. He showed Himself to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18), the other women (Matt. 28:9-10), Peter (Luke 24:34), two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32), ten apostles (John 20:19-25), eleven apostles (John 20:26-29), seven apostles at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-14), the eleven to commission them (Matt. 28:16-20), His brother James (1 Cor. 15:7), and at His ascension (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:4-11).
Paul notes that over 500 witnesses saw Him at once, most of whom were still alive when he wrote that (1 Cor. 15:6). These were tangible encounters with the risen Lord, confirmed by men and women of integrity—esteemed in their communities, trusted in the synagogue, and unrefuted by their contemporaries. No one disproved their testimony, though many opposed it. Their boldness, even unto martyrdom, declares the truth they proclaimed: Jesus is risen.
The character of these witnesses bolsters the resurrection’s credibility. They were faithful followers who faced persecution and death rather than recant. Their preaching in Jerusalem, just weeks after the crucifixion, in the very city where Jesus was killed, demonstrates unshakeable confidence in the empty tomb. No skeptic could produce evidence to contradict them, for the facts were undeniable. To reject Christ’s resurrection is to dismiss a mountain of testimony and call Him a liar, despite His proven claims. To accept it is to affirm that He is God, the one who conquered death and reigns eternally.
The resurrection is the foundation of our faith. Without it, the cross lacks power; together, they accomplish redemption. Jesus, our Chief Cornerstone, the Author and Finisher of our faith, triumphed over sin, death, hell, and the grave. He ascended to the Father’s right hand, securing our justification and interceding for us. The Apostle John captures the purpose of these events: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).
The resurrection invites us to believe, to trust in the risen Savior, and to live in the hope of eternal life. It transforms our perspective, calling us to set our hearts on things above, to run to our living Lord, and to proclaim His victory to a world in need.
Contemplations:
- Running to my living Savior. Oh Lord, full of glory, the only begotten Son of the Father and very God of very God, to whom I am made a child of adoption through belief in You, I look to You for all things as the resurrected Christ and King. You have no place in a tomb, and I know that such a prison of death could never hold You. You are all power, and all glory, and all strength. I do not run into a tomb as Peter did; I run to my strong Tower, my living Savior! Your resurrection assures me that You are alive, reigning, and accessible. I cling to this truth, finding refuge in Your strength and trusting You to guide my every step.
- Anchored in hope. Lord, from Your throne of majesty and glory that You now inhabit, You give me assurance of hope and confidence that I will one day attain that blessed place where You have gone before to take possession for me. My hope is in You and Your promises to me. The empty tomb proves Your power over death, guaranteeing my future with You. I rest in this certainty, knowing that my life is secure in Your hands, and I long for the day when I will see You face to face in glory.
- Seeking things above. Blessed are those who know the resurrected Christ here on earth, but even more blessed are those who already see You in heaven, those believers who have walked through the gates of death into the glories of heaven. They see You now reigning with your Father in incomparable joy. Be for me now, Lord, the only joy and comfort of my soul. Show me Your loving countenance and embrace me with the arms of Your mercy by the power of the Spirit whom You sent from the throne of your Father. Help me cherish these words, “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3). This call reorients my desires, urging me to prioritize eternal realities over fleeting pleasures.
- Living in resurrection power. Your resurrection, Lord, is a present reality that transforms my life. Because You live, I too can live victoriously, free from the fear of death and empowered by Your Spirit. Help me walk daily in the strength of Your triumph, proclaiming Your gospel with boldness as the disciples did. May my life reflect the truth of Your resurrection, drawing others to believe and find life in Your name. Let me live with confidence, knowing that my Savior reigns and intercedes for me.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
Sovereign Lord, You are the God of all glory, the Creator who spoke life into being and holds all things together by Your power. Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the radiance of Your majesty, the one who conquered death and ascended to Your right hand. I worship You for Your infinite wisdom, ordaining the resurrection to display Your victory over sin and the grave. You are faithful, fulfilling every promise and raising Your holy One to eternal glory, never to see corruption.
I confess that my heart too often strays from this truth. I have lived as if Your resurrection were just some story, failing to let its power shape my thoughts and actions. My doubts and fears have overshadowed the hope You offer, and I have clung to earthly concerns instead of setting my mind on things above. I have neglected to proclaim Your victory boldly, yielding to timidity or distraction. Forgive me for these sins, for treating lightly the empty tomb that declares my freedom. Wash me clean through the blood of Your Son, renewing my faith and restoring my joy in Your salvation.
With a heart full of gratitude, I thank You for the resurrection of Jesus, the cornerstone of my faith. Thank You for rolling away the stone to reveal an empty tomb and a living Savior. Your angel’s words, “He is risen; he is not here,” echo as the anthem of redemption, assuring me that death has no hold over Your Son or those who trust in Him. I am grateful for the witnesses—Mary, Peter, the apostles, and hundreds more—who saw You alive and testified to Your triumph. Their integrity strengthens my faith, confirming that You are the Son of God. Thank you for fulfilling the Scriptures, raising Christ as You promised, and securing eternal life for me. I rejoice that He tasted death for me, bore Your wrath, and rose to justify me before Your throne. His appearances to His disciples, His commission to preach, and His ascension to glory fill me with awe, knowing He prepares a place for me. Thank You for the Spirit who seals this hope, empowering me to live as one raised with Christ, my life hidden in Him.
Lord, I plead for grace to live in the light of this resurrection. Grant me boldness to proclaim Your gospel, undeterred by opposition, as Your disciples were. Help me run to You, my strong Tower, trusting Your strength in every trial. Fix my eyes on things above, guarding my heart against worldly distractions. Fill me with Your Spirit, that I may reflect Your victory in my words and deeds. Use me to draw others to believe in Your risen Son, that they too may find life in His name.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Mark 16:5-6:
Matt. 28:6; Acts 4:10; Luke 24:6; 2 Tim. 2:8.
[1] “The apostolic gospel bears witness to the historical fact of Christ’s death and resurrection, and proclaims the meaning of that fact from the word of God.4 The reality of the resurrection and the rationale of the resurrection are joined under the authority of God.” Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter: The Way of the Cross, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 150.
