{"id":2244,"date":"2021-04-07T18:30:29","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T01:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2244"},"modified":"2021-04-08T10:30:22","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T17:30:22","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Mark Ch. 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 16 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv.1-20) Jesus\u00a0<\/span>had died<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>is disciples were mourning and weeping over his death. Several women bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.<\/span>\u00a0Imagine the\u00a0<\/span>sadness<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in their hearts at that time<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 that is fairly relatable to us. Before his death, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>already\u00a0<\/span>prophesied<\/span>\u00a0to his disciples\u00a0<\/span>at least three times\u00a0<\/span>that h<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>would be resurrected after death<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Because the disciples were\u00a0<\/span>still\u00a0<\/span>in grief and they had trouble thinking and they<\/span>\u00a0could not\u00a0<\/span>believe it when they heard that Jesus had\u00a0<\/span>actually risen from the dead<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But Jesus\u00a0<\/span>has risen indeed<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0He\u00a0<\/span>appeared to his disciples<\/span>\u00a0several times. According to the Gospel of Mark, He\u00a0<\/span>appeared to\u00a0<\/span>Mary Magdalene, two of his\u00a0<\/span>disciples<\/span>, and he appeared to\u00a0<\/span>his\u00a0<\/span>eleven disciples<\/span>\u00a0as they were<\/span>\u00a0together<\/span>\u00a0and spoke to them.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through a review of other three\u00a0<\/span>Books of\u00a0<\/span>Gospels<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>we can tell that the appearance of Jesus occurred\u00a0<\/span>at different times and\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>different\u00a0<\/span>places (<\/span>e.g.,\u00a0<\/span>on the road, in\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0house in Jerusalem, in Galilee, by the sea<\/span>\u00a0of Galilee<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>when the disciples were eating,\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0room where the disciples gathered)<\/span>. He also appeared to different people (e.g.,\u00a0<\/span>to some\u00a0<\/span>women, some of his disciples<\/span>\u00a0at one time\u00a0<\/span>when Thomas was absent and\u00a0<\/span>at another time\u00a0<\/span>when Thomas was present).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>appearance of Jesus was also recorded<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>Paul’s letters,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.\u201d<\/span><\/b>(1 Corinthians 15:5-8<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Mary Magdalene\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
other<\/span>\u00a0wom<\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMatthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:10<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Peter\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5<\/span>*<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Two\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>His<\/span>\u00a0disciples\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>were going to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Emmaus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-32<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10 disciples<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 24:36-43;\u00a0<\/span>John 20:19-23<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>note:\u00a0<\/span>ten<\/span>\u00a0disciples excluding Judas and Thomas)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Eleven<\/span>\u00a0disciples<\/span>\u00a0as they were eating<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMark 16:14; John 20:26-31; 1 Corinthians 15:5<\/span>*<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seven of his<\/span>\u00a0disciples who were fishing by the Sea of Galilee<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nJohn 21:1-24<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eleven\u00a0<\/span>disciples who went to the mountain in Galilee\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMatthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:6<\/span>*<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
More than five hundred brothers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1 Corinthians 15:6<\/span>#<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
James<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1 Corinthians 15:7<\/span>#<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A<\/span>ll of his disciples,\u00a0<\/span>before Jesus was taken into heaven<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 24<\/span>:<\/span>44-53; Acts 1:4-9; 1 Corinthians 15:7<\/span>*<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Notes:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[<\/span>*] Paul<\/span>\u00a0may have referred to possibly the same occasions as what were\u00a0<\/span>recorded\u00a0<\/span>in the<\/span>\u00a0Books of the\u00a0<\/span>Gospels<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[<\/span>#] Paul<\/span>\u00a0may have referred to possibly different occasions from\u00a0<\/span>what<\/span>\u00a0were recorded\u00a0<\/span>in the\u00a0<\/span>Books of the<\/span>\u00a0Gospels.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is a historical fact that Christ,\u00a0<\/span>with his incarnation on earth, had been\u00a0<\/span>crucified and resurrected from the dead on the third day<\/span>. This is\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>core\u00a0<\/span>foundation of the Christian faith<\/span>. He is the risen Lord \u2013 that is the belief and preaching of the disciples and his followers of all generations.\u00a0<\/span>Since then<\/span>, Satan hasn\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>slackene<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0and has\u00a0<\/span>attempt<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>confuse\u00a0<\/span>people or deny the truth<\/span>\u00a0constantly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding the\u00a0<\/span>resurrection of Jesus,<\/span>\u00a0there are times we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>could\u00a0<\/span>rational<\/span>ly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>debate and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>investigate<\/span>\u00a0about the real fact of\u00a0<\/span>his<\/span>\u00a0resurrection<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>We may also\u00a0<\/span>encourage people to\u00a0<\/span>take a leap of<\/span>\u00a0their<\/span>\u00a0faith\u00a0<\/span>to overcome their disbelief – thinking the dead cannot be resurrected<\/span>. That is all\u00a0<\/span>because Jesus is not an ordinary man and He is God.\u00a0<\/span>When one person\u00a0<\/span>repents to God,\u00a0<\/span>having buried his old self and been born again – that will be a powerful testimony\u00a0<\/span>of the resurrection with the Lord<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAnd if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0(1 Corinthians 15:14)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does mean to you knowing the fact that\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Lord was risen and is alive?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>How will your life be different because of the living Lord?\u00a0<\/span>Don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>forget that\u00a0<\/span>your life\u00a0<\/span>is the best way you can witness the Lord!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2244"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2249,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions\/2249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}