Mark 16:1-8
16: When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 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. 7 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.” 8 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.
Reflection
He who was punished for our sin has overcome death by physically rising back to life (Mark 16:6). Discipleship now takes on a new dimension: Christ’s victory ensures our final victory over all satanic, human, or physical powers (cf. 1 Cor. 15:23–26). We can be assured of what Paul says: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38–39). Joy is washing over this fallen world, because Jesus has been raised and a new creation has begun (2 Cor. 5:17).
Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Reflection
Paul compares the false teachers to a boy named Ishmael, who was the son of a slave woman named Hagar (see Genesis 16). Ishmael’s birth was not the result of God’s miraculous work, but merely the product of human efforts (the “flesh”; Gal. 4:23). Similar to the story of Hagar and Ishmael, those who depend on their own human efforts will find themselves enslaved (v. 25; cf. 3:10) and will not inherit God’s promises (4:30).
Christians, on the other hand, are like a boy named Isaac, who was the son of a free woman named Sarah (see Genesis 17; 21). Since Sarah was barren (Gal. 4:27), Isaac’s birth would have been impossible if it were not for God’s gracious life-giving promise (v. 23). Like Isaac, Christians are the children of God’s promise (v. 28) and have been given eternal life by the miraculous work of God’s Spirit (v. 29).
Paul does not want the Galatians to be surprised by the trouble being caused by the children of “slavery” (v. 29), but neither does he want the churches to tolerate their lies. Teachers who reject the gospel and promote obedience as the basis of our acceptance before God are a grave danger to the health of Christ’s people. Paul’s concern for the Galatian Christians is so serious that he wants them to expel these false teachers from the churches (v. 30).
Psalm 119:104
104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Those who teach a false gospel are a true threat to the health of the church. Pray for your church leaders and ask God to use them to protect you and others from those who are promoting teaching that is out of line with God’s Word.