By ALL accounts...

'A True Story'- Acrylic- K. Hitt- copyrighted

Mark 16:8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

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This one verse I paused at today.  Before it an angel speaks to them; after,  (the earliest manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9-20) Jesus Himself – The Risen Lord, speaks to Mary Magdalene.

What I see here with these human eyes of mine is Jesus’ mother, and the one forgiven much, who loved much, Mary Magdalene…

Were prepared to undertake and do an emotionally difficult duty to care for Jesus after His crucifixion: and “anoint His body”.  As they walked they pondered how the large stone (placed to guard against any entering or leaving the tomb) would be moved away for them to enter the tomb.  In all, they could humanly ponder and contemplate the way and the how to handle this difficult duty, that they were prepared for. 

What they found, no man could prepare them for.

Nothing was as they expected it to be.  Even though Jesus, before He was crucified told them, He would rise again, and they would see Him again.  (16:7)

As read here in Mark, there is a desire to turn to the same passage in the other Gospels to hear how they read.  God breathed, absolutely believe the Bible to be.

In this being said:

Just as an artist, a fishermen, a doctor, see and hear the same thing differently, with different emphasis to the details at hand… as I read here, desire is simply to seek more.  Apparently Mark 16:9-20 being later added to this account perhaps came about the same way….???  They added perhaps not as a lack of faith or truth in the wonder of wanting to know more, just the certainty there is more than “they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid”…

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The fact that we have ‘God breathed’ Gospel here tells us they did speak.  What and when what happened from here – God’s Spirit knows.  We have been given ‘God breathed’ testimony, The Word of God-

So now turn to these passages in

Mathew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy and ran to tell the disciples.

11-15 “The Guards Report” shares how the chief priest paid off the guards to not tell the Truth of what they witnessed and that till this day, their story has been widely circulated among the Jews.

<>< THESE precede ‘The GREAT Commission’ in MT 28:16-20

Luke 24:1-12 “The Resurrection”

John 20:1-18 “The Empty Tomb”   John shares Mary M. is alone finding Jesus “Not in the tomb” and she going to the Disciples to tell them.  As Luke he also shared Peter is the Disciple first to enter to look inside and witness The Empty Tomb.

John 20:10-18 “Jesus Appears To Mary Magdalene” – this account, have myself personally, most often read and underlined and held on to….

These ALL share the same though:

“He Has Risen” – Just as Jesus foretold He would.

The awe of this witnessed to/of/by those that witnessed it… shared in the Gospels… The awe and wonder remain. The ‘God Breathed’ Word for us to hear the hearts there, as inspired to share their account from the heart of God to ours.

Yes, there is much to ponder as in – imagine.  The artist in me seeks a Word Picture, perhaps.  This morning – though have read it many, many, times, Marks account and verse 16:8 rose up and stood out.

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My spirit hearing here how when the predicted, though extremely difficult heartache that it was, it was still predicted; and when it turned into the unexplainable, though known as a Truth – “trembling and fear” were adjectives used to describe it.

Matthew ‘afraid yet filled with joy…’ So in prayer take all of these and seek Jesus’ face, that His Spirit may counsel this spirit to hear the Counsel The Living Word is to share here --- to this heart: That His Fill, may fill to overflowing Gods Way into mine. – that is the prayer as study on.

An assurance was seen in hearing ‘tremble and afraid’ is not only felt by myself when the predictable and hard – turns into the unexplainable, yet certain God given Truth… and an absolute. The “Speak nothing”???... Seems out of sync with Gods Way.  Pause to Ponder much before my Lord.  Ponder much – pray He speak to my spirit His Spirits Counsel needed – yes, I paused, and I prayed.

The previously written- ‘inspired to share their account’ – comes back to mind.  For this is each and every one of ours – “GREAT COMMISSION”

To share how Jesus is in our lives and our relationship with Him. – Or even how we ourselves came to encounter and witness the Risen Lord as our Savior, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God With Us.

As in Marks account when the difficult, though predicted, turns into unexplainable – but certain of Truth-

…sometimes our FEAR leaves us silent in our witness of Jesus in our lives.

F ace

E verything

A nd

R ecover

His perfect love casts out FEAR.

This, the message God knew I needed to have breathed into my heart and to hear this morning. 

Amazing Love, Amazing God, Amazing Encounters with Jesus EVERYTIME YOU SEEK HIS FACE… especially in the predicted, extremely difficult places you know that you are entering into – He WILL answer with His Spirit to your sprit with the account that your heart needs to hear!

Theology of course is relevant to true Bible Study.  Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, replaces the God Breathed Living Word of God that He desires for you to hear.  Yes, this leaves me trembling, still afraid, yet JOY filled and knowing He Himself has sent counsel to my spirit to NOT be afraid. 

His perfect love, casts out FEAR

Godspeed

God sent

Indeed.

Thank you GOD, lead me on, in Your Way to my way I pray- In Jesus’ name. AMEN<>< and Amen.  Respecting the AMEN in HIM.