October 26, 2010 Mark 16; Luke 1

The Sabbath was over and early Sunday morning Mary, Mary and Salome went to the tomb to annoint Jesus' body. They wondered how they would move the stone so they could get in. When they got there they saw the stone rolled away and they went inside the tomb. There sitting on the right side, was a young man in a white robe. He told them not to be afraid and that Jesus had risen to life. Trembling with fear the women left and told no one. (Some of my bibles have alternate endings to the gospel of Mark.) One alternative ending is that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and when she told the others, they did not believe her. Then Jesus appeared to two followers who told others who wouldn't believe them. Last, Jesus appeared to the 11 and scolded them because they didn't believe. Then He gave them the great commission to go out and preach and baptize believers. After that Jesus was taken up to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God. The 11 went out just as Jesus told them. Another ending is that after the women told the 11, they went out and spread the "sacred and everlasting message of eternal salvation."

Luke
This gospel begins "Dear Theophilus" but there is no clarification about who he is. Some speculate that the meaning of Theophilus is 'friend of God.' Others say Theophilus was a real person - a relative of Caiphas - and a very devout Jew. I'm going to take it personally, so as a friend of God, I continue...
When Herod was king of Judea, a devout priest named Zechariah, received a vision in the Temple while performing his duties there. An angel named Gabriel appeared to him to tell him his barren wife, Elizabeth was going to have a son and he was to name him John. Because Zechariah and Elizabeth were both older he didn't believe Gabriel, so he became dumb and couldn't tell anyone anything. When Elizabeth was 6 months along, God sent Gabriel to Nazareth to give a message to a girl engaged to a man named Joseph. He appeared to Mary and told her not to be afraid because God had been gracious to her and she would become pregnant and give birth to a son and name Him Jesus. Gabriel told her that Jesus would be great and be called "Son of the Most High God." Mary asked the angel how this could happen since she was a virgin. Gabriel told her that nothing is impossible for God. Soon after that, Mary went to visit Elizabeth. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby jumped inside Elizabeth and she (Liz) was filled with the Holy Spirit and announced that Mary was going to be the mother of the Lord. Mary sang a happy song of praise. After 3 months, Mary went home. When John was born, people rejoiced. When he was a week old it was time to give him his name and everyone expected him to be named for his father. But Elizabeth spoke up and told them his name was John and they wanted to hear what Zechariah thought. He wrote "His name is John" and then he could speak. He praised God. People knew this child was special. Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God's message.

Tomorrow read Luke 2-3