Sermon notes

The Gospel of Mark: After the Resurrection

April 27, 2025

Who Do You Say That I Am? And What Are You Going to Do With It?

The Abrupt Ending of Mark’s Gospel: Wait, what!?

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

The Message of Mark’s Gospel: Who do you say that I am?

Mark 1:1 – The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…

Mark 8:29 – …Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Abrupt Ending of Mark’s Gospel: What are you going to do with it?

Be a part of the gospel story and make a decision to do something with the good news.

We are invited to be a part of the gospel story. Both Mark’s readers and the women at the tomb:

The Invitation of Mark’s Gospel: We are invited into cross-bearing discipleship.

Mark 8:34 – …Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

We are invited into cross-bearing discipleship that reflects faith in the risen Messiah.

Going Deeper

For small group conversation and personal reflection.

Think through the structure of Mark’s gospel. In your opinion, how well does he prove that 1) Jesus is the Messiah, and 2) the Messiah’s mission was to suffer and die?
- What were the most compelling examples/proofs he gave?
- How sympathetic are you to the disciples and other Jews who couldn’t wrap their minds around a suffering Messiah? What might be analogous today? (Something we would struggle to fathom?)
How did you initially respond to Mark’s abrupt ending? How would you have felt, reading it for the first time?
In what ways can you identify with the women at the tomb? In what ways are you different?
If Mark is inviting you into cross-bearing discipleship, what would that look like for you?
- What are your responsibilities as a disciple? What would be joyful and what would be difficult?
- How can your group, or LifeWay as a church family, help you grow in discipleship?
As you explore an invitation to discipleship, where are you in each of the practical steps?
- Invitation to decide: have you chosen to follow Christ? Why or why not?
- Invitation to share: Who in your life needs to hear the good news? Do you know how to share it with them?
- Invitation to change: Is there something in your life or response to Christ that you would like to change? Discuss with your group what that might look like.
What is your biggest take-away from the gospel of Mark?