Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Resurrection  - Celebration of life

Mark 16: 1-7

v:6 “do not be alarmed; you are looking for the Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here..."

                         Theologian Lose wrote,” Resurrection is not a conclusion, it is an invitation. And Jesus' triumph over death, sin and hate is not what Mark's gospel is all about, rather it is about setting us up to live resurrection lives and continue the story of God's redemption to the world”.

                          Mark's gospel begins with proclaiming  Jesus  as Christ and the son of God; and the original text does not ends with a clear ending, though a long ending was added subsequently.   After Jesus was laid n the tomb, an anxiety was going through among the faithful ones close to him through the early part of the sabbath.  The women especially  Mary Magdalene of whom Jesus  cast out 7 demons, were eager to get back to the tomb with spices and ointments before the sunrise. But they were not sure who would move the stone out. To their surprise they saw the stone was moved out and inside  they saw an young man who was an angel.  The messenger proclaimed the promise of Jesus' Lordship.  When he told them 5 things that were beyond human knowledge;  do not be alarmed,  looking for a Jesus  who was crucified, he was raised, he is not here,  to look at the place where he was laid, it only raised their anxiety.

                         The experience of the empty tomb is our faith which is unique to Christianity. Mark 16 starts with the statement that sabbath is over. This is much more than the timing of the resurrection, it also stands out as a theological key point, indicating that the sabbath itself is obsolete, because a new era of redemptive history  has begun. No sabbath observance is mandated ever since resurrection, like the pass over which ended with the Lord's supper commemorating His death, sabbath  was replaced by the Lord's day  commemorating   his resurrection every first day of the week. This gospel portion share a  manifestation of God's  living presence.  Believers are strengthened by the fact that our  Lord Jesus  is risen and he  lives!!.

PRAYER
Dear Lord, enable us to live everyday in the resurrection experience. Give us peace love and joy instead of anxiety. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The resurrection of Jesus is victory and hope for  everyone who

believes in His redemptive   work on the cross.

Dr.Jerry Varghese, Baltimore MTC  Maryland

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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