Have you ever caught yourself watching an infomercial on TV? Whether it’s an ad for a product for something to get you organized, a product that will make your car look like new or the latest diet or exercise gadget, it makes some bold claims that seem too good to be true. Even though you’re skeptical, sometimes the sales pitch is so good that you decide to give it a try. Usually you end up feeling like you’ve wasted your money, and it does not work at all like it did on your TV screen. It ends up in a box with the other things that were not all you thought they would be.

 

The claim Jesus made during His life about His resurrection was beyond bold. It seemed impossible. It sounded too good to be true. In fact, Peter had rebuked Jesus when He mentioned it earlier in the Gospel of Mark. Those who were close to Jesus approached the first day of the week after His death as they would following the death of any other loved one. However when they reached the tomb they did not find what they expected. Instead of His body in the tomb, they found an angel. And that angel confirmed that He had risen.

 

In Mark 11, they found the donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem just as He told them. In Mark 14, they found the upper room to prepare the Passover just as He told them. Later in that chapter, Peter denied Him three times just as He told him. And now He had risen just as He told them He would. His bold claim and the fulfillment of the resurrection changed the world…just as He told us.

 

– Brian

 

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he said this plainly. (Mark 8:31-32a)