The Punchline
In case you didn’t know, we have a preschool here at First Presbyterian. From Monday through Friday, hundreds of little children pour in with their parents to learn the basics of this life: how to share toys, how to take turns, how to treat their neighbor, and even how to pray. It’s kind of a big deal because in a few weeks we’ll be celebrating our 50th anniversary as a preschool. Fifty years of preparing and launching little children into fuller lives. Somehow, it doesn’t seem quite fair: after fifty years all the children are all still 3 and 4 years old, but the rest of us keep aging!
Speaking of forever, we have been studying the gospel of Mark now for an entire year. With today’s reading we come to the end of Mark. Now I should warn you, your Bibles have some verses after verse eight, but we don’t use them; they were added much later. Early scholars read the ending and thought, “What? That’s it? It ends there? That can’t be right—where’s the resurrection?” and so on; but verse eight is the end and Mark knew well what he was doing.
Mark 16: 1-8 English Standard Version
1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 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?" 4 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. 6 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. 7 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. †
Reading The Text
To understand Mark, we have to see it in context, which means it must be read through the lens of the Old Testament—the journey of Man’s relationship with God [and please understand: when I use the term “Man,” I do mean humanity or humankind, inclusive of both men and women—but the singular “Man” is better only because we can mentally picture someone—a person—be it Fred Flintstone or a stick figure; but I’m not using it to be exclusive of women].
PREHISTORY/PAGANISM
Prior to the Old Testament narrative, all was paganism and paganism is all there was, religiously speaking. Paganism is best understood as Man trying to reach or find the Divine. Man tries to connect with the gods specifically as a way of trying to control his fate.
His world was determined by weather, seasons, and crops that failed or flourished—so his chief interest was reaching up to secure an influence on the powers that shaped his fate. Universally, Man attempted to please or appease the gods through making sacrifices. Grain offerings, animal sacrifices, throwing virgins into volcanoes—all signify the same reality; namely, that sacrifice is the language of integrity.
This language has stayed with Man ever since. When a man proposes to his beloved, what is the point of a diamond ring other than a meaningful sacrifice to prove his integrity, the sincerity of his love and devotion?
But with paganism, the gods were fungible. If your present gods weren’t paying out, you made new ones. Switch brands, realign loyalties, try again and see if your new approaches work.
The lesson? When Man tries to reach God, he fails.
GOD AND ISRAEL
The Old Testament changes the world forever. Uniquely in this narrative, God reveals himself to Man—to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and especially Moses. God reveals the new rules. Chief among them:
Rule 1: The Lord is God—not whatever you think or want to think. God is God on God’s own terms.
Rule 2: No more making things up about God. Paganism is over.
In short, God must reach out to Man and not vice versa. The rest of the Old Testament is the account of the people to whom God revealed himself slipping again and again back into paganism—back into idolatry.
The Lesson: the only reliable knowledge of God is what God self-reveals.
The Old Testament is the history of Man’s constant failure and backsliding. We never get it right.
MARK’S GOSPEL
The Gospel of Mark is God’s good news that God reveals himself and saves helpless Man through the person of Jesus, who is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ. We’ve walked through Mark for an entire year now, and after a year I would ask you: What have we learned about the people of God—even those who followed Jesus most closely? The answer is that, again and again, the people don’t get it. They never get it. They remain clueless—utterly clueless—to the very last.
Lesson: When God comes down to meet Man, Man is totally clueless and doesn’t get it. —
ENDING OF MARK
The ending of Mark's gospel has challenged scholars for centuries. Look at the end of it:
and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Come on, that can't be the end of the gospel! Scholars agree that the added 12 verses were added to Mark much later. Is it possible the ending of Mark is meant to be just as we see it?
I believe it is completely intended. Mark weaves a pattern throughout the narrative—one of messianic secrecy. Jesus is there to be revealed as God in the flesh, but he is very cagey about being revealed too soon. Again and again, Jesus orders witnesses not to tell what they had seen, but without fail, they go and tell.
Don't tell, don't tell, don't tell! and the people go and tell again and again. As we read through Mark, the story is like a winding coil, like a spring in an old clock. The gospel has been winding up in secrecy, the coil winding tighter and tighter.
We have an anointing by a woman that seems accidental and an intentional one attempted by three women that is pointless and too late, for they come to the tomb to prepare for death one who is permanently alive. And when the news is told that Jesus is risen and Now! Now go and tell! —aaaaaand PUNCHLINE:
And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
This is the punchline—the switch that springs the coil—the announcement and proclamation to the upside-down world that everything has indeed been set right-side-up! And the women, who, like the Disciples, were oriented upside-down, now have their world up-ended. Told to tell, they tell no one.
The good news is revealed; it has come true, and everything is changed as a result, just as Jesus foretold them. The ending is perfect as it is.
Again: When God comes down to meet Man, Man is totally clueless and doesn’t get it.
CLUELESS TODAY
Most of the world today is equally clueless. Yes, we live in the era of the Church and the good news of God’s redeeming love is told and spread to every corner of the Earth, but humanity remains largely lost.
1. Paganism persists. Paganism is still alive and well. Not in terms of gods and goddesses, but we are still trying to control and command our fate. Science and technology have extended life and enabled us to produce our crops with almost complete predictability. Medical advances eliminate many conditions that would have led to early death, and new advances are expected to double earthly lifespans before much longer.
But this is paganism—Man’s attempt to wield the power of the gods. It’s nothing new, but feels new because it always looks to us like new, cutting edge technologies.
2. The Church is flawed. The Church, through its history, hasn’t always shined. There is little need for the Church ever to celebrate itself. The Church is a flawed institution—or group of institutions—which have reinvented paganism and idolatry through time. Buy this prayer cloth and you’ll be blessed! Call the number on your screen for this free vial of spiritual spring water! Subtext: If life has you scared, we can help you control God.
3. Modern culture is Theocidal. Today we know Jews who do not practice Judaism and Christians who are not really Christians. We know religious groups that have twisted the faith that was handed down from the Apostles. Heresies flourish because, among fallen humanity, distortions always spread faster than the truth. Why are such false teachings so effective?
4. Man is not God, but Man wants to be God. It’s as old as the Tower of Babel. The world movement that goes by the self-proud name of Humanism says that people are more important than God.
But Man is mortal. Mortality mean death. Therefore, Man is dead.
If Jesus did not raise from the dead, he was (merely) a man and the story ends with his body lying in a tomb. End of story.
But if Jesus is risen, he is who he said he was; namely, the Son of God.
If he is risen from the dead, he is immortal as God is immortal.
God is immortal and immortality is eternal life.
The tomb is empty. Even Jesus’ enemies confirmed this. The Romans and the Sanhedrin testified to it. The Disciples later saw him along with over 500 other eyewitnesses. The story isn’t over: Jesus is immortal. Jesus is Lord.
Everything changes. Everything is different.
WHAT DIFFERENCE?
So what difference does it make whether or not the tomb is empty?
It makes all the difference in the world. It is the difference between dead and alive, between nonexistent and immortal. It is the difference between Heaven and Hell.
If we are still mortal, still dying, then everything about this life matters terribly. The length of our personal lives means everything and preserving every second is our most important enterprise; and whatever might be going on up front, our real service is to self above all because when you die, the cosmos ceases to exist.
If Jesus is not raised from the dead, then death is the final, ultimate power of the cosmos, and God is not really at all relevant.
But if Jesus is raised, then we have life—our immortality has already begun.
If Jesus is raised, we share in his promises, including eternal, everlasting life.
Because he is risen, we know all his promises are absolutely certain.
And because we live forever, this life is put into perspective; it is all preschool. Not only is First Presbyterian entirely a preschool, but this entire life is preschool.
That means no sweat! As little children in our preschool learn things—how to use scissors for the first time, how to take turns, how to treat others, how to pray—so we are here to learn how to love one another and begin worshipping God.
Does it make a difference that Jesus is risen? We know it does!
LIFE FROM THE DEPTHS
Many of my dear old friends from high school and college are unbelievers. They may have believed at one time, but they went off to college and drank the cultural Kool-Aid. They became atheists—or, if more open-minded—agnostics.
As much as I love them (and I do), there is, with each and every one of them, a kind of wall beneath the superficial personality. It is a terminus, an end point behind which seems to be darkness and emptiness—a void—which I suspect they don’t like to admit or talk about, but I can see that wall read it like a gigantic headline. It says:
“Nothing Beyond Here”
I know it. I see it. I can feel it in my heart and soul when I am with them.
And I grieve it, for it keeps our relationships permanently superficial, irretrievably shallow.
How different with my Christian friends—really, truly, authentically, veritably different! The wall isn’t there, or at least, if there is a remnant wall, there is a big door in it that opens. Inside is freedom, security, and love because within that wall is immortality.
I am blessed to say that all of my best friends are Christians, and I daresay they seem to me the finest, most gracious, most loving people I know.
“Objection!” (some say), “I know lots of Christians who are petty, judgmental, selfish, and unkind!”
I would have to say yes, Christians are still human beings, therefore we all still carry traces of death within us; but as we walk with Christ we are all trying to learn—to feel and internalize the true meaning of at least one key word: FORGIVEN.
We walked in darkness but have seen a great light.
We are formed of mortal clay but are learning to contain immortality.
We are preschoolers, fumbling through the tasks of every new day, but we are loved and we know it. And we have been made immortal in Christ. Learning all that means takes some time.
INVITATION
How about you and me this morning—how’s that wall doing? In your heart, in your soul, are you more mortal or immortal? Are you anxious for this world’s securities and longevity or are you invested elsewhere? Is this world your concern or are you seeking the kingdom of God? Are you crossing this bridge or are you camped out on it? Where is your treasure?
If you’ve got a tall wall under the surface with darkness behind, you get the best news of all today: Jesus wants to absorb all that void, all that darkness. Jesus is willing to take it all from you, if you can bring yourself to part with it.
Jesus takes death and gives life.
Isn’t it high time you gave all that death away? Jesus has got a whole bag of immortality with your name on it. He wants to pour eternal life into that place of emptiness and replace anger, fear and anxiety with faith, hope, and love.
It’s sooo easy! You don’t have to do a thing—just say, “Yes, Lord” here and now. Be forgiven and come join this preschool. †