Is this the end?
Mark 16:1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, 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, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Mark began by telling us that his Gospel is part of the beginning of the good news told by Isaiah, and Malachi … and Exodus (1:1-2). His Gospel ends on a cliff hanger. Jesus repeatedly said he would go through rejection and abuse and death and all the way to resurrection life, and his friends should follow him. Now the angel tells these faithful women that Jesus has indeed risen to resurrection life … but they will have to keep following him to Galilee to meet with him. This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. And his friends need to keep following him … all the way.
So, what happens next? They will meet with the risen Jesus. John told us that Jesus is the one who would baptise with the Holy Spirit (1:8). The angel told them to tell what has happened, and Jesus told them the good news must be preached to all nations (13:10). Mark’s first hearers were living in what comes next … and so are we. They had a key part to play, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, in the next part of the good news (not fearful silence) … and so do we.
So, will I partner with the Holy Spirit and keep following Jesus all the way … ultimately through death to resurrection life?
Jesus, I will follow you all the way. Holy Spirit, I will partner with you in all the different things you are doing now. Thank you for the wonderful, good news of how you rescue us from sin and separation from you, from death for resurrection life.
Written by David Cornell
Sadly, this is the last Daily Digest reflection. But this isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of the next part of your journey in partnership with the Holy Spirit, hearing and meditating on God’s Word, sharing it with people around you, and praying God’s Word into reality in your life and the lives of those around you.
There are now many excellent apps and web sites that make it easy to read the Bible on your own or with friends, including YouVersion, Lectio 365, and The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. If you have a favourite devotional Bible reading app or tool, please share it in the comments below.
Thank you to all those who have faithfully shared their insights into God’s Word in writing reflections or in comments over the last 13 years, and to all those who have read and prayed and lived them.
I have loved Daily Digest over the last 13 years. I love the insights that my church family members have found and shared. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Thank you to Suzie and David who have faithfully administered Daily Digest. Most of all, thanks to God for his word and his actions in my life.
David,
Thanks so much for your words and for your gentle, Godly wisdom and leadership. May God bless you as you step into the next chapter – partnering with the Holy Spirit.
B
What a testimony to the good news of Jesus DD has been. A testimony to struggles, triumphs and always turning us to Jesus, our saviour. Thank you everyone who has written and shared and to our ever patient admin.
Wow
David & Megan, I am surprised.
I love Daily Digest. I love seeing God’s word told as it is, then a reflection told through the eyes of someone human, different, having their own personality, strengths, weaknesses, passions, life experiences. In every single person, someone I know, love, respect. I often don’t know what is going on in their lives but can see how God has uniquely prepared them for this message this day. Daily Digest has never been like reading a Bible Commentary or Study Bible notes. It has always been about the RAW WORD of God, sharper than a sword (and actually it is the sword). But the reflections from my friend, they were not about knowing about the Theology of the Bible, they were about my friends reflections through their very different personalities— showing me knowledge of the person of God, showing their friendship with Jesus. How he talks to them through this day’s Bible passage. And when their personalities were different from mine or their interpretation or ‘take out’ from the Bible passage was different from mine, then that was even better. Even more challenging.
I respect that it may be time to close down Daily Digest. I will now enter into a period of reminiscing of my recollection of some of the “Best of Daily Digest “.
Thanks to everyone, especially Suzie, David, Megan. You can be very proud of this very fruitful ministry. And I understand that it’s time may have come to shut down while you are ahead.
Rgds Andrew W