The CROSSroads: Personal Lessons from Mark's Gospel by Rev. Mitch Schultz

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:34:26utc

Lesson Fifty: RESSURECTION (Mark 16:1-20)

"The stone had been rolled away". (vs.4)

My son's condition is today very poor. It is clearer than ever that he is dying and what is now certain is if God doesn't intervene, he will not live long. Many have called and some have visited and the concern for our family has been overwhelming. I could never collapse even if I tried under the strength of the love and support that has been shown.

A good number of people have commented that they do could not imagine what we are going through. "It must be agonizing", one person groans. "I don't know how I would handle this," another laments. I too would have said this. But my sense is that we are in an eye of a hurricane and while viewers on the outside can only see the tumult, we who are on the inside are experiencing the peace of God, which yes, in times like this is incomprehensible. I told Travis during one of our talks on death about this serenity. I said to him, "Travis, do you know what is strange? I feel OK about all that is happening to you." His reply again revealed the faith of one who is being refined by the fire. He said in response, "That is God, dad. God is working in your heart to make you feel that way."

Through these months and with the assistance of our tour guide, Mark, my eyes have been opened to new spiritual realities never before visible on this side of the cross. Peer with me again over the crossbeams where Christ died to release man and the view is stunningly clear. You see from here a tomb. For three days you observe there has been a hustle of activity around that burial site ever since Joseph and Nicodemus brought the body there. A group of specialists from the Roman army came to seal the tomb and left satisfied that no person could possibly break in. Soldiers are placed to guard the tomb. You notice as the sunrise begins to illuminate the scene, three women prepared with embalming material arrive, wondering how they will coax the soldiers into rolling the stone back so that they might enter. But when they see the tomb, it is empty. You notice what appears to be something angelic. The women look frightened and run from the scene in terror and confusion. You hear later that they ran to a group of disciples in hiding who are unconvinced by their tale.

What I see over these cross beams is clear as crystal and I do not want to move from here. This has been the best part of the journey because from here it all fits together. Jesus has called us to follow him. He's talked about dying and our needing to die with him. It was all so we could inherit new life. From the cross I see that now. In fact all Christians need to view their lives from here, particularly those of us who have found the journey difficult. My son will die, but because of that empty tomb he will immediately be placed into the loving and waiting arms of Jesus. Like he did for Stephen, Jesus will also stand to receive my boy. So how can I move from here? Oh, I know there will be moments of loneliness. The pain of memories from pictures and places will always be there. I will no doubt call out his name only to be reminded that he is no longer here. At moments like this I will need to run back to the cross. I'll again see that empty tomb and remember how real it all really is. My loss has been his gain. As I linger there I will reflect on all the promises God has made of how Jesus is preparing a place there in heaven for me too. My day will come. The resurrection was not the final act in that story. He ascended into heaven and there at the right hand of the father, he took his place as the faithful and perfect high priest. There he speaks to God about me. But as certain as the sun will set tonight he will return. I can handle the pain of loss knowing this.

From the cross I am also reminded of my calling to serve Jesus on earth. I need to keep serving. My loss can not hold me back although I know the loss of motivation will be there. The cross, the empty tomb and that occupied throne refreshes my call and gives me courage to return to my world for which Christ died. When the Lord Jesus instilled this call early on in my adult life he knew the trials I would face and he would use every one of them to shape me into a more faithful servant. The death of my son should not be allowed to blow out the flame of my passion to serve Jesus. Jesus is alive! He rose from the dead and has commissioned all that have followed him to continue the work. But it will continue to be a journey paved with suffering. It has been thus throughout history. There has been little success with the gospel apart from persecution. The suffering of Jesus in order to "bring many sons to glory" (Heb.2:10) is our prototype for this. There is no gain without the pain. Christians who suffer must never buckle under the pressure but rather make that suffering available to him to be used for his glory. Christians should count it joy to be found worth enough to suffer for the name of Jesus. "But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:13) What Peter is referring to here as his glory is our resurrection - when Jesus returns to receive us to himself. Before we get to our empty tomb there is the cross. We first, like Christ, must suffer. A day will come when we will have completed the journey. For those who have heard the call and have been faithful, accepting the cost and willing to carry the cross, there will be the reward of eternity with him. For those who deemed the cost too high and chose the easy road the price that they will pay in eternity is high.

Right now the path we take is paved with pain. There will be times when the pain can be so great that even tying your shoes let alone sharing the gospel with others will seem too much. Well press on my friend. Don't give up. Run to the cross and take another look. Look again if you need to. The journey does not end with your pain. Beyond the cross is an empty tomb. Beyond the cross stands a resurrected savior who commissions his disciples. Beyond the cross is our Lord seated at the right hand of the Father. Beyond the cross is a home being prepared for us where someday we will spend eternity with him. The path, as we have seen in Mark's gospel, is not smooth but we have seen that its destiny is certain and sticking with it is ultimately worth it. Call others to join you on that path. You are commissioned to. Remain on the path and you will arrive.

See you there!