Resurrection Sunday- The Gospel According to Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. He is Risen! Today we reflect and rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus. The tomb is empty. Death could not hold him. The stone has been rolled away. The One who was crucified is risen, just as he said.

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the Risen Lord.

Lord, we rejoice that you are alive. Death could not hold you. The grave could not keep you. 

Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, you have raised your Son Jesus from the dead and we worship you. 

Creator of all things, in Christ the new creation began. 

We set our hearts on the risen Lord, the firstborn from the dead. 

Lord, show us the power of the resurrection and fill us with living hope.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, we rejoice in you!

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare you praise. 

A Scripture Reading from 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. 

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 

And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 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. 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.” 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.”

The gospel of Mark ends ends with a moment of fear and silence and creates powerful tension. The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. The story is left hanging so that readers feel the weight of the question. 

The angel has told them to go and tell but their initial reaction was hiding and fear. 

What will you do with this news?

Matthew, Luke, and John show us what happened next. Fear turns to joy, silence turns to bold proclamation as the risen Christ shows himself to them. How will you live because of the resurrection?

A Prayer of Adoration:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your resurrection you have triumphed over the grave. We worship you as the Living One, the firstborn from the dead, worthy of all honor, glory, and praise forever.

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord, forgive us when we live as though the tomb is still sealed. 

When we walk in fear. When we doubt. When we live in despair instead of resurrection hope. Lord, your resurrection changes everything. 

Forgive us when we forget your promises and act as if death still has the final word. 

Touch our hearts again today so that we will see the empty tomb rightly. 

A Prayer and Declaration of Trust:

Jesus, we believe and confess that you are the risen Son of God. 

You are the Lord who conquered death and the grave. 

You are the risen King. 

You drank the cup of judgment and you offer us the cup of life.

Lord, you are the Resurrection and the Life. 

The one who believes in you will never die. 

Lord, we believe. 

Lord Jesus Christ, we open ourselves to the power of your resurrection and trust your finished work. We have no other hope but you.

Lord, we trust that our sins are forgiven, that death has lost its sting, and that new life is ours because we are yours. Lord, we belong to you. 

You are the risen Lord, declared to be the Son of God in power through the resurrection. 

A Prayer of Intercession:

Father, we pray for a world still gripped by the powers of the Old Age. For the grieving and the oppressed. The doubting and the despairing. Those caught in sin and death. 

Let the good news of the empty tomb break into every aspect and corner of your creation. 

Holy Spirit, help us as a community to live as resurrection people. We want our eyes to be fixed on the risen Christ and our hearts captivated by the love of the Father.

Remove every barrier, every distraction, every fear that would keep us from proclaiming and embodying the resurrection. 

Give us eyes to see your kingdom breaking in, ears to hear your voice, and feet that run to tell others the good news. 

Direct our steps for the glory of your name. Amen.