The International Sunday School Lesson March 31, 2024
Background
Today’s lesson is about the most important fact in the Bible. The resurrection of the Son of God. Jesus repeatedly spoke of His resurrection during His life. He also spoke of the crucifixion. Neither of these events were a surprise to Jesus. These were in the plan from the beginning.
The tomb also speaks to his station in life. Jesus lived a life of poverty and humility. He was certainly not rich. He did not even have a place of burial. Joseph of Arimathea gave Jesus the tomb for his burial.
Bought Spices
Mark 16:1 (ESV) When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
The ladies were not the only ones to give spices. John tells us that “Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”1
Who Will Roll Away The Stone?
Mark 16:2-3 (ESV) And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. [3] And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”
The tomb was closed off with a huge stone. Matthew says, “…and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. [61] Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. [62] The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate [63] and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ [64] Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” [65] Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” [66] So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” 2
Angels
Mark 16:4-5 (ESV) And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. [5] And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
Reading all four gospels gives us a more detailed account. Different details are left out of each gospel. The different perspective given by the different gospels underscores the validity of the account as it speaks to their different view of the events. For example, John speaks of the two angels. The two angels described by John might have been seen later. Mark just left that visit out. You can certainly tell the writers are not colluding with one another.
He is Risen
Mark 16:6 (ESV) And he said to them, “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.
The resurrection was repeatedly discussed.
• John 2:19-22 (ESV) Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” [20] The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” [21] But he was speaking about the temple of his body. [22] When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
• Luke 24:46 (ESV) and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
First Evangelist
Mark 16:7-8 (ESV) 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.” [8] 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.
We should continue to proclaim the resurrection of our Lord. Matthew records, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”3
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