Of what is Sunday a symbol?
(Mark 16:1-20; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 1 Peter 1:3) Blog 22-28 Sep. 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
REVIEW: After Jesus’ baptism, he met temptation in the wilderness and began healing the sick and preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Through his teaching and meeting the attacks of opponents his disciples learned about his mission to earth. As his earthy life neared its end he headed towards Jerusalem where the multitudes called him King only days before they were moved to cry “Crucify him.” He bore the guilt of our sins to the cross where he made atonement for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus’ Resurrection
1. On what day of the week did Jesus die and was buried? It was Friday, the day before the Sabbath, that Jesus died & was buried in Joseph’s new tomb (Mark 15:37-46).
2. What three women were at the cross on Friday and at the tomb on Sunday morning? Mary Magdalene, the prostitute, Mary the mother of James the less & Joses, & Salome were at the cross & the tomb. All of them had followed Jesus from Galilee (Mark 15:40-47; 16:1; Luke 7:37).
3. If Jesus arose from the tomb early Sunday morning, what are the three days he was in the tomb? Jesus was in the tomb Friday afternoon, all day Saturday, and the first part of Sunday which began at sundown Saturday evening (Mark 8:31; 15:33, 42; 16:1-6).
4. Judging from Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday morning, of what is Sunday a symbol? Sunday is a symbol of new beginnings. It was the first day of creation & it is the day Jesus came back to life. Just as an octave on the piano starts over on the eighth key, so a new week of work begins on Sunday (Mark 16:1-2; Gen. 1:1-5; Ex. 20:8-10).
5. If resurrection Sunday is a symbol of a new week of work, of what is Jesus’ Saturday in the tomb a symbol? Saturday is a day of ceasing from work & on it Jesus rested in the tomb, for it was the weekly Sabbath rest (Mark 15:42, 46; 16:2).
6. To what do the Apostles liken the resurrection of Jesus? Paul says that the resurrection is a picture of walking in a new life & Peter says it is a picture of being born again with a future hope (Mark 16:6; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:3).
7. Why does Paul say that God raised up Jesus from the dead? God raised Jesus because he had fulfilled all the conditions of the covenant & in Jesus, God poured out the fulfillment of all the promises made to the fathers (Acts 13:29-34; 2 Cor. 1:20).
Jesus’ Appearances
8. What did the three women who brought spices to the tomb on Sunday morning find? They found the heavy stone rolled away & an angel sitting inside the tomb who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark 16:1-7).
9. Who first saw Jesus after he rose from the dead? Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven devils, was the first to see the resurrected Christ. As a woman she represents the bride of Christ, the church (Mark 16:1-7; Rev. 19:7-8).
10. How did the eleven disciples respond when Mary and two other disciples told them that they had seen the risen Lord? The eleven disciples did not believe the report of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection (Mark 16:10-13).
11. What did Jesus do when he appeared to the eleven disciples in the upper room? Jesus scolded the disciples for being hardhearted & not believing the report of Mary & the other disciples (Mark 16:14).
12. What would we not have if Jesus was not risen from the dead? We would have no hope of a future life after death. Our faith in him would be worthless (1 Cor. 15:14-19).
Jesus’ Command
13. What else did Jesus say to the eleven disciples? Jesus told them: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15).
14. What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the story of Jesus’ perfect life, atoning death, resurrection, & ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven. This gospel is the fulfillment of all that God through Daniel asked his people to accomplish before AD 34 when the gospel went to the gentiles (Mark 1:1; 16:14; Dan. 9:24; 1 Cor. 15:1-8).
15. Who did Jesus tell his disciples would be saved? Just as Mark has emphasized throughout his book, it is those who believe in Jesus that will be saved. All who truly believe in Jesus will desire to confess him before men in baptism. Those who refuse to believe will be eternally lost (Mark 1:15; 5:36; 9:23; 16:14-16; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9-13).
16. What signs did Jesus say would accompany the preaching of the Gospel? Jesus said that the preaching of the Gospel would be accompanied with casting out devils, speaking new languages, the avoidance of poisoning, & healing the sick (Mark 16:17-18).