Jesus Is Risen — TDW Kids

Faithful women. Mark names them: “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome” (16:1). They had followed Jesus in Galilee, and they had watched from a distance when He died (Mark 15:40-41). Two of them “observed where He was laid” (Mark 15:47), after Joseph of Arimathea placed His body in a tomb cut out of the rock. They rested. Luke tells us that they “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). Even in their sorrow, they obeyed God. Love that came early. “Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen” (16:2). They brought spices “that they might come and anoint Him” (16:1). They came to care for a body. None of them expected an empty tomb. A problem on the way. They asked each other, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” (16:3). When they looked up, it was already rolled away, “for it was very large” (16:4). God had taken care of it before they arrived. The third day. Long before, Hosea wrote, “On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight” (Hosea 6:2). Many Christians see these words as a picture of Jesus rising on the third day. The first day. Jesus rose on the first day of the week, the day we call Sunday. That is why Christians gather to worship Him on Sunday. What this means for you. The women came to Jesus with love before they understood everything. You can come to Him the same way, with your questions and your worries.

Who they were. Mark names three women: “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome” (16:1). They had been “looking on from afar” at the cross. They were women “who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee” (Mark 15:40-41). Two of them “observed where He was laid” (15:47) when Joseph of Arimathea placed the body in his tomb. After the Sabbath. “Now when the Sabbath was past” (16:1). Luke says the women “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). Grief did not stop them obeying God. Mnemeion. “They came to the tomb when the sun had risen” (16:2). Mark's word for tomb is mnemeion (say: mnay-MAY-on). It comes from a word for remembering: a tomb was a place to remember someone who had died. The women came to remember a dead friend. They found a living Lord. Love that had not yet understood. They came “that they might come and anoint Him” (16:1). Their love was real, but they had not understood what Jesus had told them: “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day” (Mark 9:31). The stone. “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” (16:3). “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large” (16:4). Their question had been answered before they asked it. The third day. “After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight” (Hosea 6:2). Hosea spoke of God raising His people. Many Christians see in it a picture of the Messiah raised on the third day, and of His people raised with Him. The first day. Jesus rose “early on the first day of the week” (16:9). That is why Christians gather to worship on Sunday, the day the Lord rose. For you. They came with love and with an unanswered question. Come to Jesus the same way. He is already ahead of you.

These women had followed Jesus for a long time. They watched from far away when He died on the cross. They saw where His body was put in the tomb. Then they rested on the Sabbath day, as God’s law said. Early on Sunday morning, they came back with spices. They thought they would find Jesus’ body there. They wondered who would move the big stone. But God had already taken care of it! Long ago, a prophet named Hosea wrote about the third day. He said God would raise His people up on that day. Many Christians see this as a picture of Jesus rising. Jesus came back to life on the third day!

The women loved Jesus very much. They came early to the tomb with spices. God had already moved the big stone for them!

Do not be alarmed. Inside the tomb the women “saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed” (16:5). Matthew calls him “an angel of the Lord” (Matthew 28:2). His first words were kind: “Do not be alarmed” (16:6). The same Jesus. “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.” The One who rose is the very One who died on the cross for us. Risen. “He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (16:6). Jesus did not come back as a ghost or only as a happy memory. God raised His body to life, and the place where it had been was empty. Luke says, “Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:3). The living among the dead. Luke tells of two men in shining garments who asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). A tomb is a place for the dead, and Jesus is alive. Remember. They said, “Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee” (Luke 24:6), and Luke tells us, “And they remembered His words” (24:8). Matthew records the angel saying, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:6). What this means for you. Jesus is alive today. Everything He said about Himself came true, so you can trust everything He promises you.

Ekthambeo. “They saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed” (16:5). Mark's word is ekthambeo (say: ek-tham-BEH-oh), to be utterly amazed or alarmed. The young man answered with the same word: “Do not be alarmed” (16:6). A messenger from God. Mark calls him a young man. Matthew calls him “an angel of the Lord,” and says, “His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow” (Matthew 28:2-3). Luke says “two men stood by them in shining garments” (Luke 24:4), and John tells of “two angels in white” (John 20:12). All four Gospels agree that messengers from God announced that Jesus had risen. Who was crucified. “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.” The risen Lord is the crucified Lord. Paul writes that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). A real, bodily resurrection. “He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (16:6). The angel pointed to an empty place. Jesus was not a spirit or a memory. The body that had been laid in the tomb was raised to life. “Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:3). The living among the dead. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). The question gently corrected them. They had come to a grave to look for Someone who is alive. He told you. “Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’ ” (Luke 24:6-7). “And they remembered His words” (24:8). Jesus' death and rising were God's plan from the start. For you. The resurrection is not a nice idea. It happened. Because Jesus lives, His words can be trusted, and His promise of life is for everyone who believes.

The women were afraid when they saw the young man. But he told them not to be afraid. He knew they were looking for Jesus. It was the same Jesus who was killed on a cross. That same Jesus was alive again! God raised Jesus’ real body back to life. The place where His body had been was empty. Luke’s Gospel tells about two men in shining clothes. They asked, “Why are you looking for a living person here?” They reminded the women of what Jesus had said. Jesus had said He would rise on the third day. Everything Jesus says comes true.

God’s angel said, “Don’t be afraid.” He said, “He has risen from death.” Jesus is alive today!

Go, tell. “But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you” (16:7). The women who came to care for a dead body were sent out with the best news in the world. And Peter. Only a few days earlier, Peter had said three times that he did not know Jesus. Then “he wept” (Mark 14:72). Now the message named him. Jesus had not given up on Peter. As He said. On the night before the cross, Jesus had told His disciples, “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee” (Mark 14:28). Now the angel said that He was going before them. Jesus keeps every promise. Trembling and amazed. “So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (16:8). This was the most surprising news anyone had ever heard. Their fear is easy to understand. Fear and great joy. Matthew says they went out “with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word” (Matthew 28:8). The fear was real, and so was the joy, and the joy carried them to the disciples. What this means for you. Jesus does not leave out people who have failed Him. If you have let Him down, He still calls you by name. And when the good news feels too big, He gives you courage to tell it.

A message to carry. “But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you” (16:7). Matthew adds the angel's words, “go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:7). And Peter. After his denial, Peter remembered Jesus' warning about the rooster, “And when he thought about it, he wept” (Mark 14:72). Now the angel names him. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, needed to hear that the risen Lord wanted to see him. As He said to you. On the way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus had promised, “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee” (Mark 14:28). The angel's message repeats that promise. Jesus was going ahead of His followers, exactly as He had said. Ekstasis. “For they trembled and were amazed” (16:8). Mark writes that trembling and ekstasis (say: EK-stah-sis) had taken hold of them. Ekstasis is astonishment so great that a person is almost beside himself. The news was far bigger than they could take in. Said nothing to anyone. “And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (16:8). Their fear was the fear of people who had just met the power of God. Matthew tells us more: they went “with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word” (Matthew 28:8). Most likely they spoke to no one on the road and ran straight to the disciples. Not the end. Fear did not have the last word. Jesus Himself was about to appear (16:9). For you. Jesus names the ones who have failed Him and sends frightened people with good news. If you have let Him down, He has not given up on you. If you are afraid to speak, He gives courage.

The man gave the women an important job. He said, “Now go and tell his followers and Peter.” Peter had said three times that he did not know Jesus. After that, Peter was very sad and began to cry. But Jesus did not leave Peter out. Jesus was going ahead of His followers into Galilee. Jesus had told them this before He died. The women ran out of the tomb, shaking with fear. The news was very big and very new. Matthew’s Gospel says they were afraid but also very happy. Jesus is kind to us when we are afraid. He gives us courage to tell others about Him.

The man said, “Go and tell his followers.” He said Peter’s name too. Jesus wants everyone to hear the good news!

First to Mary. “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons” (16:9). Jesus had once set Mary free, and she was among the women who traveled with Him (Luke 8:1-2). The risen Lord appeared to her first of all. Her tears. John tells us that Mary “stood outside by the tomb weeping” (John 20:11). She thought someone had taken His body: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him” (John 20:13). Her name. Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher) (John 20:16). When Jesus said her name, she knew Him. Mary told them. “She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept” (16:10). John says she told them “that she had seen the Lord” (John 20:18). They did not believe. “And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe” (16:11). They were full of sorrow, and the news seemed too good to be true. Jesus would soon show Himself to them too. What this means for you. Jesus loves to show His grace to people He has set free. He set Mary free, He called her by name, and He let her be the first to see Him alive. He knows your name too.

Appeared first. “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons” (16:9). Luke names her among women “who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons” (Luke 8:2). The woman Jesus had rescued from so much darkness became the first to see Him risen. Weeping at the tomb. John tells the scene: “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping” (John 20:11). The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him” (John 20:13). Called by name. She turned and saw Jesus, but she did not know Him, “supposing Him to be the gardener” (John 20:15). Then He said, “Mary!” and she answered, “Rabboni!” (John 20:16). One word from Him, her own name, was enough. Pentheo. She went to the disciples “as they mourned and wept” (16:10). Mourned is pentheo (say: pen-THEH-oh), the deep grief people show when someone they love has died. Jesus had said, “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). That morning the comfort was on its way. They did not believe. “And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe” (16:11). This was the unbelief of grief. They had loved Him and lost Him, and the news seemed impossible. Jesus did not leave them in it. Her report. John says that “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her” (John 20:18). She told only what she had seen and heard. For you. Jesus chose a woman He had set free from seven demons to be the first to see Him alive. He does not wait for people to be impressive. If He knew Mary's name, He knows yours.

Jesus rose early on the first day of the week. Then He showed Himself to Mary Magdalene first of all. Jesus had healed Mary before, and she loved Him. John’s Gospel tells us Mary was crying outside the tomb. Then Jesus said her name, “Mary.” She turned and knew it was Jesus! Mary went and told Jesus’ followers. They were crying, and they did not believe her. They were too sad to believe such happy news. But Jesus really was alive. Jesus knows your name too. He loves you and wants you to know Him.

Jesus showed Himself first to Mary Magdalene. She told His friends, but they did not believe her. Jesus really is alive!