Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your service for Jesus sake Thank you for tuning in to our Sunday night message here the witnesses of the resurrection I know that it's not Easter but Easter is one of the greatest times of all life and I'm telling you as I look at witnesses of the resurrection take your Bible to the book of Mark and to the book of Mark. Mark chapter 16. Mark chapter 16. Turn with me to the pages, Amen, as we look at Mark chapter 16. Verse 9 down to verse 18 that we look at the wonderful Word of God. Mark chapter 16, starting with verse nine, going down to verse 18. Before we get into the Word of God, let's open up with a time of prayer and ask the Lord's blessings upon our message. Father, we come before you acknowledging our need for your grace and mercy, and we ask for your forgiveness of our sins. Lord, both knowingly and unknowingly, cleanse us daily as we walk with you, and equip us with your armor each day. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of your spirit, so that we may stand firm against the challenges we face. Lord, we know on a daily basis, Father, that we need to keep the armor of God on. And Lord, I pray that you'll open our hearts and minds to receive your word. May you help us, Lord, as we go through life. And Lord, as we reverence you above all else in the world, I know that, Lord, in our worship and praise, there's a flow of your spirit that is released that brings life. this flow of life that carries us from all of the pitfalls of destruction and death. We praise you, Lord, above all the troubles of life. And Lord, may your presence keep us safe. Help us to remember to praise you first, no matter what is happening around us, Lord. And Lord, for your protection upon health, our mind, our family, our finances, our emotions, and our reputation. Thank you that no weapon formed against us will prosper. Thank you that you've made us to be righteous in your eyes and that you'll protect us from the slander and the condemnation of others. And Lord, all this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. All right. You know, there was a story of a man that was wrongly imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit. His lawyer presented evidence. of his innocence, but the judge and jury refused to believe it. And so he sat in prison for years before the truth finally came to light. The evidence has always been there, but the people refused to accept it. The story reminds us of what happened after Jesus' resurrection. He appeared to his closest followers, and yet they doubted the very truth they had been waiting for, the greatest truth in human history. And so, When we look and realize that the witnesses of the resurrection, amen, that we see that even as we look at the wonderful Word of God, here we look at the encounter of Mary, amen. the encounter of Mary. And so I'm glad that the privilege of Mary is that in verse nine, he appeared first to Mary Madeline. Mary Madeline had the incredible honor of being the first to witness the resurrected Christ. The moment marked her not only as a significant figure in the resurrection narrative, but also as an emblem of God's grace. And so the encounter of Mary, In verse nine, we see the privilege and we see the purification out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mary's transformation from demonic possession to devoted follower of Christ exemplifies the redemptive power of Jesus. Her deliverance became the catalyst for her devoted service. And so out of that privilege and out of that purification, we saw the proclamation that she went and she told them that had been with him. You know, after her encounter, Mary did not keep the good news to herself. Instead, she became the first evangelist proclaiming Christ's resurrection to those who had lost hope. Now, when we look at that first reaction to the resurrection, We look at the word of God in verse nine and it says, now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told him that had been with him as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive and had been seen of her, believed not. After that, he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked and went into the country. And verse 13, he went and told it unto the residue, neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the leaven, as they cast sat at meat, and unbraided them with their unbelievable and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. In verse 18, lastly, they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt him. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Here, when we look at the witnesses of the resurrection, the first reaction to that resurrection that brought immediately joy and belief was Mary Magdalene's encounter. Because after this, we see that not only Mary Magdalene's encounter, but we see the disciples' doubt. When Mary shared the news with the disciples in verse 11, they were heartbroken and they refused to believe her. Grief clouded their judgment and their hope had been shattered. And they, when they had heard that he was alive and had been seen of her, they believed not. And so, Mary Madeline's encounter, the disciples' doubt, and the appearance on the road to Emmaus. Two other encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, and he opened the scriptures to them, and yet they didn't recognize him until he broke bread. But even then, their testimony didn't convince the rest of the disciples. And so Oswald Chambers once wrote, faith never knows where it's being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading. You know, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, faith must prevail over doubt. And so when we look and we realize that that first reaction to the resurrection We see the universal mandate in verses 15 and 16 because Jesus didn't just conquer the grave for a few witnesses. He commissioned them to spread the news to the whole world. Go into all the world in verse 15. The resurrection wasn't the end. It was the beginning of the great commission. And Jesus instructed his disciples to spread the gospel everywhere. And so go into all the world. Baptism and belief in verse 16. Belief in Christ and baptism are the key steps to salvation. Actually, I'll say this. Belief in Christ. You don't have to be baptized to be saved. I don't care who you are and I don't care who hears this. Amen. I'm glad. Listen, the thief on the cross wasn't baptized. And so, in order to step out on faith, yes, you make a profession of faith a public profession that you baptize, but I know that there might be times when somebody on their deathbed, they've never been baptized, but as long as they're saved, that's the tools, that's the steps of salvation. Those who believe are saved, and it signifies their new life in Christ. The consequences of rejection is that rejecting the message of Christ has eternal consequences. Unbelief, not just failing to act, but it leads to condemnation. And so Billy Graham said one time, the resurrection of Christ changed the midnight of disappointment into the sunrise of hope. And we are called to share that hope. And so when we see the first reaction to the resurrection, which dealt with Mary Madeleine, and which dealt with the instances of the disciples' doubt, the appearance on the road to Emmaus, we see the universal mandate that go into all the world and the steps to salvation, the consequences of rejection, but thirdly, the confirmation of the message. In verses 17 and 18, the early disciples were given miraculous signs to confirm the message of the gospel, helping to spread the truth with divine power. The signs of power in verse 17, God confirmed the gospel through signs such as casting out demons and speaking in new tongues. And so, I'm glad. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. Not only signs of power, but protection and healing. Because in verse 18, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Jesus assured his disciples of divine protection, even from deadly serpents and poison. Healing the sick became a visible sign of his power working through them. And then there was a call for faith. Because when Jesus appeared to the eleven, he rebuked their unbelief. Faith was essential to fulfilling their mission. And so, C.S. Lewis once said, I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. You see, the disciples had to move from doubt to full conviction to change the world. And so we look and we realize that through this, that the revelation to the duo, the unrecognized presence, because he appeared in other form under the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they didn't recognize him. There was an ordinary moment that as they walked and went into the country. And so when we look at all of these things that took place, And we see what was happening during these times, amen. We're amazed at what the Lord was doing. You see, the eighth proof of the resurrection was the appearance of Jesus to Mary Madeline. The very fact that Jesus visited Mary first before he visited anyone else is evidence of the resurrection because it's just like Jesus. He responds to love and deep devotion. And Mary, above all others, seemed to have loved Jesus more and held him closer to her heart with more devotion. than anyone else. Her need for him seemed to have been greater, felt more than anyone else's. She had been forgiven and healed from so much, that even in this reference to her mention, is made that Jesus cast seven devils out of her. She was at the cross through the whole ordeal, and her name is one of the names always given, even above Jesus' own mother, Mary, in Mark chapter 15, verses 40 and 41. She was present when Jesus was taken down from the cross until the very last moment at his burial. In Mark chapter 15 verse 47, Luke chapter 23 verse 55, she was foremost in making the preparations for embalming the body over the weekend. In Mark chapter 15 verse 46, she visited the tomb after the Sabbath at the earliest possible moment. moment arising very early in the morning when it was still dark in Mark chapter 16 verses 1 & 2 and John chapter 20 verse 1. She refused to leave the tomb after Peter and John verified that the body was missing in John chapter 20 verse 11. And Mary was a most unusual follower of the Lord, a woman of deep devotion and love, humility and grace, a precious saint who felt the loss of her Lord because more deeply than anyone else, Jesus responded to her and met her need first of all. And it's the proof to the fact that the Lord was risen because every genuine believer can attest to the same glorious truth that Mary's experience proclaims. Jesus has risen for he's ever present with us responding to our love and devotion and meeting out every need how precious and strong the presence of our wonderful Lord is greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends in John 15 30 a man and I'm glad he said if you love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever I'm glad he said the father himself loveth you because you have loved me and I believe that I came out from God And so, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? And so, when we look at the proof of the resurrection and the unbelief of all the disciples, that it painted the light, a picture most likely that would not have shown if the resurrection had not really happened. The disciples would be seen as heroic examples, but if the resurrection was being fabricated, The very fact that they are seen failing again and again and that they are actually the ones to fail the most tragically and are to be blamed the most is clear evident of the resurrection. And so, when we look at the proof, the appearance of Jesus of the two disciples, that refers to the appearance of the two on the Emmaus road, just who they were is not known. They were simply two disciples of the Lord who were to go to the apostles, prepare them even more for the Lord's appearances, And the very way in which the Lord appeared and went about preparing his disciples for that confrontation with him is evident in him having truly risen. His perfect wisdom and tenderness and care, the evidence in the way everything is handled are very clear. And so, no fabricated story would paint its main characters in such a bad light, and not time after time. So the disciples, they were not heroes, but tragic failures throughout the whole gospel story. But this is seldom remembered and mentioned by preachers and teachers because unbelievably, time and again, they were a far cry from the type of men that we would want as heroes. Why does Scripture paint them in such a bad light? Because what they said did happen. It's the truth. Jesus arose. He appeared to Mary and to the two disciples. And when they shared their experiences with the apostles, The apostles refused to believe. They were without excuse. For many months, Jesus had drilled the fact of his death and resurrection into them. The weakness of the disciples and their continued unbelief are evidence that what happened was actually so. It was true, the proof of the resurrection. The truth exactly what happened is being told simply, clearly, by honest and moral eyewitnesses, praise God. And so, when we look at all of these things, The resurrection of Christ not only brings hope, but also transforms us into witnesses of his glory. From Mary Magdalene's privilege to the dual disciples revelation, and finally the disciples commissioning, that we see how the resurrection changes lives. It encourages us to live boldly in our faith, share the gospel, and recognize Christ's presence in our daily walk. And so, out of all of these things, when we look and we see what the Lord is doing a man. I'm glad that all of us as we go and look at the Word of God a man. We are given one of the greatest blessings of all a man and that is thank God that we know that the Lord is ever with us, amen. And so, as we look and see from the witnesses of the resurrection, amen, what the Lord actually did for all of us, amen. I'm glad that when we a look at the resurrection and the foundation of the early church's mission. Yet even those closest to Jesus initially struggled to believe, but it reminds us that faith is not easy, but it is essential. And Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out and proclaim the good news to the world. We carry that same responsibility today. We're empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the truth of the risen Savior. And now I hope and pray That as we get ready to go our separate ways and close out. There was a small town in America, a local woman named Sarah that faced a devastating loss when her mother passed away. Struggling with grief, Sarah often found herself wandering the halls of her childhood home, feeling the weight of her sorrow. But one day, while rummaging through old boxes, she discovered a letter her mother had written just weeks before her death. In it, her mother expressed her love, her faith, and a profound hope for Sarah's future. And the letter ignited a spark in Sarah's heart. reminding her that death is not the end, but a transition to something greater. Just as Sarah found hope in her mother's words, we too find hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who appeared to his followers after his victory over death. And so I'm glad that each and every one of us, as we look at our life today, I hope and pray that each and every one of you that the resurrection changes the way you view the challenges in your life, that we share the gospel with others because it's a significance of our faith in our daily walk with Christ. The resurrection shows that no obstacle is too great for God. Even death is defeated and we can face challenges with faith and hope. And Jesus commanded us to share the good news that without the gospel, people are lost. Sharing it offers hope and salvation to a broken world. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. It allows us to trust in his promises and stand firm in the face of doubt. And so the resurrection of Christ not only brings hope, but it transforms us into witnesses of his glory. From Mary Madeline's privilege to the dual disciples revelation, and finally the disciples commissioning, how the resurrection changes all of our lives. And so I hope and pray that as we go our separate ways, the witnesses of the resurrection keeps you in mind of what the Lord is wanting to do in all of our lives. Amen. As we get closer every day for the return of the Lord, because I'm glad that he knows exactly what we need before we asked it, amen. And so through the witnessing of the resurrection, amen, we're able to go forward. And I'm glad that as we close out with prayer, I hope that you remember that Easter can be every time of the year, not just Easter time. but all through the year, because we are witnesses of the resurrection. Father, we thank you for the hope and the assurance found in the resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ. May we carry this message of hope to those in despair. Save the lost, draw them to you. Grant us the courage to proclaim your truth. Help us to repent daily and wear the armor of God as we navigate our lives, Lord. We thank you for the power of the resurrection and the grace that it brings to us. And as we repent of our unbelief and hardness of heart, we ask you to strengthen our faith each day. Help us to share your gospel with those around us and give us the courage to be bold witnesses of your love. For those who do not know you, we pray for their salvation. And for those who have strayed, We pray that you'll bring them back to your truth. In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.