Key Passage
But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one that was killed on a cross. He has risen from death! He is not here. Look, here is the place they put him when he was dead."
— Mark 16:6 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
"He has risen from death! He is not here." What incredibly powerful words and what an even more gloriously important truth. As we reach the end of the Gospel of Mark, we know at least three important things about Jesus. First, he is the Nazarene—the one who was from Nazareth and who would do the work of God. Second, he was crucified—he died to ransom us from sin. Third, he has been raised from the dead—he conquered death and brought life to us. He is not in the grave. He lives. He is Lord.
Prayer
Praise to you, O Father, for Jesus' glorious triumph over sin and death. Thank you for what his resurrection means. Thank you that because my life is joined to Jesus in this life, I can be sure that it will be joined with him in resurrection. Thank you that the tomb is empty and your Son, my Savior, lives. In Jesus' name and to Jesus' glory I offer this prayer. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ's rising from death. Now we wait to get the blessings God has for his children. Those blessings are kept for you in heaven. Those blessings cannot ruin or be destroyed or lose their beauty. God's power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. This makes you very happy. But now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad. Why do these troubles happen? To prove that your faith is pure (true). This purity of faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. The purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears (comes). You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You can't see him now, but you believe in him. You are filled with a joy that cannot be explained. And that joy is full of glory. Your faith has a goal. And you are receiving that goal—your salvation.
— 1 Peter 1:3-9
But Christ has truly been raised from death—the first one of all those {believers} who will be raised from death.
— 1 Corinthians 15:20
Christ is the head of the body. (The body is the church.) Everything comes from him. And he is the Lord who was raised from death. So in all things Jesus is most important.
— Colossians 1:18
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