Anonymous
matthew 28:1-10
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the wife of Clopas, rose early in the morning to serve their Lord and King at his grave. Their devotion continued beyond his public execution. When the Sabbath was complete, they bought and prepared spices to prepare his body in death.
One can imagine their weariness. Did Jesus’s followers feel rejected by God? Was their faith dented or breached by his death? Jesus’s followers were Israelites and grew up learning and memorizing God’s promises. They had heard the stories of God’s faithfulness. The Hebrew Scriptures continually point toward God’s goodness. Jesus told them unequivocally: “I will rise again in three days” (Matthew 16:21-23).
But reality has a wearying effect on humanity. We grow used to disappointment, mental and emotional fatigue, and physical pain. These are some of our very first experiences. They burden us as experiences and memories for our whole life before finally delivering us to the tomb.
Imagine Mary and Mary walking together with their packs of spices. Imagine they are repeating scripture to one another as they travel to the outskirts of town to anoint Jesus’s body: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22, 23). The cool gray morning matches their melancholy, maybe providing some relief? Imagine they are worrying over who will help them roll away the heavy stone when an earthquake disrupts the moment.
When they arrive, the angel’s radiance overcomes the morning. The angel reminds them of what they knew already. But the empty tomb proves it. “He is not here.” On the road to see Jesus’s disciples, Mary and Mary’s own joy is made complete when they encounter THE risen Jesus.
More than 2,000 years later, Christians in every country around the world celebrate the resurrection of King Jesus. This is the most important miracle in the history of the world. This event is ours to behold and proclaim today just as Jesus’s followers did in Israel. Amid all the pain you might feel, the calamity that has befallen you, the evil that swirls in the world at large, Jesus is here with you right now. He wants you to encounter Him. Can you pursue him like Mary and Mary? Yours will be the renewed joy of discovering an empty tomb each day.
Prayer Prompts:
Jesus says in Revelation 22:16 “I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Ask our resurrected Savior to guide you right now with his presence and God’s Word.
Mary and Mary expected to arrive at a sealed tomb to prepare Jesus’s body for burial. But the tomb was empty. Pursue God right now with an expectant heart. “O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch” (Psalm 5:3). Pour your heart out to God and watch.
