Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today we dig into the most fundamental part of our belief as Christians.

It is why we meet on Sundays . . .

It is the embodiment of our hope . . .

It is the core of our message . . .

It is the Good News.

Jesus conquered Death.

Look at what Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:1–19 (ESV)

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.

On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Historic proof of Jesus Resurrection

Recorded conversations

Appearance to over 500 at one time

Impact of the church through history

If it isn’t true

Blasphemous vs. 15

Futile Faith vs. 17

Hopeless vs. 18

If it is, we are to be pitied.

vs. 19

The importance of the Resurrection cannot be overstated!

Later in the same chapter Paul writes,

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 (ESV)

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

We have victory in Jesus.

That is why Paul writes in

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Without the resurrection . . .

we cannot be saved.

With the resurrection we have a hope that cannot be taken away.

Today, we look at the end of Mark’s Gospel.

His Gospel has been marked by detailed interactions with Jesus and those that he healed, taught, set free, and opposed.

So let’s dig into the final chapter of Mark.

Mark’s gospel is written to the Roman church that is likely undergoing the persecution of Nero.

It was a horrible time for the church.

When facing death because of their faith . . . the resurrection is the center of hope.

It is our victory!

READ

Mark 16:1–8 (ESV)

The Resurrection

16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, 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.

What is this note?

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]

Textual evidence

Oldest manuscripts do not contain 9-20

Codex Vaticanus

Codex Sinaiticus

The writing is unique

weird transition

27 new words to the Gospel

New style

Church Fathers — Scholars and Disciples of Jesus

Origen and Clement of Alexandria do not seem to know of its existence

Eusebius and Jerome state that it is absent from the majority of Greek texts

What do we do with it?

Should the Gospel have ended at vs. 8?

If this is where Mark ends his gospel, what is the message?

Fear

Silence

External comparison

Look at Matthew’s Gospel

Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV)

The Resurrection

28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.