River Valley Church New Testament Soap Sprint Sample

In the second half of Mark’s gospel account, Jesus’ countercultural message finally starts to get out. People are beginning to hear about His ideas, and the authorities of Jewish society aren’t happy about the challenges it presents to their use of the religious law as a source of social and political power.  When Jesus is killed in a shameful, humiliating way on a Roman cross, it seems like the potential for a new Israel under His leadership is over. Some women who had been following Jesus go to His burial place to anoint His body, and are shocked by an empty tomb and an angel who says He has risen from the dead. They leave hastily, afraid to tell anyone about what they’ve seen. Even when Mary Magdalene tells the disciples what she has seen, they don't believe her. Yet, Jesus reveals Himself again to His disciples, and charges them with telling the whole world about His resurrection and restorative power available for all who believe in Him.