David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

The Story is Not Over

Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, ”Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, 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 that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]

Although nearly all biblical scholars agree that Mark’s original manuscript concludes at 1:8, it is still difficult to deal with the abrupt and apparently incomplete nature of this text. Matthew, Luke, and John add oodles of details to the Easter morning event, with as much traffic back and forth from the tomb as some Monday morning commutes. In contrast, Mark’s presentation is stark and simple. Mark focuses his reader on a very specific moment — the empty tomb is revealed and the pronouncement of its significance is announced: “he is raised.” In other words, Mark’s text is less about the disciples who will make up the community of faith, and more about the faith that will make a disciple-community possible — the faith that Christ is Risen.

Having said that, let’s look at Mark’s short account of the first Easter.

  • Women walk and worry.

Mark 16:1-3

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

Mark 16:3, 5

3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

  • “Alarmed, trembling, astonishment, afraid, panic-stricken, shocked”
  • Stone
  • What’s next?!?

 

  • An angel awaits and announces.

o   The tomb is not empty!

o   A young man sits, dressed in a white robe…more fear!

Mark 16:6-7

6 And he said to them, ”Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, 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 that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

All of Mark’s Easter message is contained in the body of this heavenly messenger’s words. In this angel’s message lies the fulfillment and the future of the whole gospel.

  • First, there is the Easter Good News: Jesus “has been raised.”
  • Second, there is the first order to spread this good news: “Tell his disciples.”
  • Third is the prediction that the Resurrected One will be continually involved in the disciples’ mission: “He is going ahead of you.”
  • Fourth is the promise of a personal experience: “You will see him.”

 

A command is conveyed but cast off.

Come see.

Go tell.

They fled, trembling and astonishment had seized them

They said nothing to anyone.

 

  • The end?

 

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]

 

 

Except…

  • The rest of the Gospels show how the story goes on.

Each of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection has features that distinguish it from the others: Matthew tells the story of the descent of the angel (28:2–4) and recounts the mountain scene in Galilee (28:16–20); Luke relates the appearance of Jesus to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:13–35); John recalls Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene (20:11–18), a sstory of Thomas (20:24–29), and an account of the appearance to the disciples on their fishing trip (21:1–24).

 

  • The lives and deaths of the Apostles witness to “the rest of the story.”
  • The history of the Christian Church testifies to the fact that the story goes on.
  • Your presence here shows that there is more to this story than what we see here.

 

It’s all based, however, on what is recorded here.

The stone is moved

Jesus is risen.

Jesus is not there!

There is a message to share with those who hope in Jesus and good and justice and who may have given up on God: Jesus will meet you in Galilee (the site of the Great Commission).

The story is not over!

 

So what?!?

Be stunned. Get ahold of some of the emotion and grit that surrounds this event. Be undone. Realize that this is an encounter with the most significant work of God in all of history. Something really, really important has happened!

Angels: “Fear not.”

Isaiah’s vision: “Woe to me…”

There is a lot at stake: If Jesus was not raised your faith is in vain and you are still in your sins. We are of all men most to be pitied.

 

1 Corinthians 15 (mash-up)

But Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who sleep. And because of this death has lost its sting. God gives us the spoils of Jesus’ victory. Therefore…

 

Stay hopeful. The story is not over!

Focus

Perspective

Faith

Finances???

Family???

Health???

Job???

Personal trouble???

Private worry???

Lonely frustration???

 

Tell someone!

No guilt trip.

No call to Middle East or Africa

No call to buttonhole.

Maybe a call to someone who loves God but who has lost sight of the resurrection…

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