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Mark 16 Easter Sunday Jesus thrown everything off balance

Jesus THROWN EVERYTHING OFF BALANCE
Those are the words of the Misfit, a fictional murderous character in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” (The Art of the Short Story) by writer Flannery O’Connor.
In the real-world O’Connor writes as a reclusive Catholic in a largely evangelical Protestant, sociable culture.
It is of this culture that she “crafts a scathing critique of self-righteous, complacent, well-intentioned people, the people who populate most of (white) Southern [US] society” (Woodiwiss, 2003), where “religion is present everywhere, but rarely practiced in its true form” (Harris, 2014).
The Misfit says, “If [Jesus] did what He said, then it’s nothing for you to do but throw away everything and follow Him, and if He didn’t, then it’s nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you got left the best way you can.”
In a vague moment of clarity, the Misfit recognizes that the Resurrection represents the crucial problem of human life — either it’s true or it isn’t, and your belief about it will change everything.
At least it should. That was O’Connor’s commentary on Southern [US] Christian culture where “people strive for respectability, ignore Biblical teachings, and only act as “Christ followers” when it benefits them”.
While people might appear to be ‘good’, there is something in them that discards their need for Christ’s redemption. The authenticity of the resurrection would necessitate more, because to accept it would involve admitting fault in themselves.
This was the experience of the early followers of Jesus: “Jesus thrown everything out of balance.”
Back to Friday. Remember Erin (monologue) one of the women following Jesus. The confusion. Why didn’t He fight back? He raised others, why not Himself? “Jesus thrown everything out of balance.”
Mark has spent several chapters recording events in the life of Jesus that established His authority as the promised Messiah – Mark 1:1 (NLT)
1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…
It was written to readers who were followers of Jesus suffering persecution in Rome, needing to be reminded of God’s narrative, His story of His plan of redemption through this person Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
Mark 1:22 (NLT) 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
Authority from John the Baptist; Authority from Heaven “You are my beloved Son, with You I am well pleased”
Authority over demonic – Mark 1:25–27 (NLT) 25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. 27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”
Authority over sin [sickness/disease] – Mark 2:10–11 (NLT) 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
Authority over creation – stilled the storm – Mark 4:39 (NLT) 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Authority over death – Jaurus’ daughter – Mark 5:41–42 (NLT)
41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.
Yet His most powerful statement declaring “the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” we witness in His death burial resurrection.
Donald Senior’s brief read The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark; “The true identity of Jesus as God’s son is manifested not in acts of marvellous power but in an event seemingly devoid of any power, his passion and death.”
And it is in His passion and death that we witness the power of God in His resurrection…