In Mark’s account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we read (ch.16) about how the women who were close to Jesus waited until the Sabbath was over before coming to the tomb of Jesus early on Sunday morning to anoint his body. Even though they were anxious to pay tribute to Jesus in this way, they also wanted to honor the Sabbath, the holy day of worship for the Jews. If only today’s followers of Jesus were so adamant about revering the Lord’s Day, Sunday.

On their way to the tomb, they wondered who would roll the huge stone away from the tomb for them so that they could perform their intended task. Yet they proceeded, having faith that God would provide a way. When they arrived, they found that the stone had already been rolled away. Quite often we wonder how we will complete a certain task for the Lord, since it seems to be beyond our power. And time after time, as we go forward, the Lord himself intervenes, enabling us to perform the task at hand.

The women were alarmed to see a young man, no doubt an angel, sitting in the opened tomb. The typical reaction of people who encounter angels is to be fearful. The angel told them not to be alarmed and informed him that the crucified Jesus was not there because he had risen. He then gave the women the assignment to go and tell this good news to the disciples.

The resurrected Jesus himself would appear to many of his followers. The fact that this dead man came back to life was shocking news. However, considering the way that he lived and taught and the miracles that he performed, it would seem shocking if such a person had not come back to life!

This resurrected Jesus gave his followers a very important mission. “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’.” (16:15-16).

Jesus went on to say that miraculous signs would follow them, confirming that their message was true. Mark’s gospel ends with this verse— “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (16:20).

Those of us who follow Jesus today still have that same assignment—to tell the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and to announce the conditions for salvation that God has offered to mankind. Let us be very diligent in carrying out that assignment.