It was a group of three women who were the first to see the resurrected Christ. Some people say that it is why the message spread so fast that day.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:1). Luke 24:10 says that these were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them.
These women had a special place in the ministry. They were always with Jesus supporting him in person and financially. "After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." (Luke 8:1-3).
These women stayed close to Jesus all through His journey even to the cross. They were in Galilee, they were in Jerusalem, They were at the foot of the cross, and they witnessed him giving up his spirit and dying. They were there when he was placed in the tomb. They followed him to the very end. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite to the tomb. (Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:47).
When you stay close to Jesus, you will see the things others cannot to see. These women saw mainly three things. Mark describes the conversation of the women as they were running to the tomb. The sunrise was waking up their corner of the world, but these women were so tired, so exhausted from the bustle of the Passover and so emotionally drained from the events of the past two days that suddenly snatched away their Master’s life. you can see their emptiness: arms full of spices to anoint a dead body, eyes full of tears, hearts full of disappointment and fear.
The women saw the stone was rolled away. Now, Mary Magdalene and her companions would have expected to encounter at least one difficulty, for they had watched the burial on the evening of Good Friday; they had even noted how the Lord's body was laid; they would have observed how, under the direction of Joseph of Arimathaea, the doorway which formed the entrance to the tomb had been closed up by a large stone, which, spanning an opening of some four feet in height by three in breadth, could not have been moved by fewer than two or three men. They could not hope to roll away such a stone by themselves. At that early hour, who would help them? Their anxiety did not last long. "When they looked," says St. Mark, "they saw that the stone was rolled away." Some of these women experienced this before, when Jesus healed them of their diseases and evil spirits. They know that their heavy burdens were rolled away when the took them to Jesus. Jesus said, “seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you, ask and you shall receive.” They sought and they found. Because of Easter, our stones are rolled away, stones of sickness and pain, stones of sorrow and unbelief, stones of sin and death are removed today. Guilt is canceled, condemnation is past because Jesus is now risen and He has made peace with God for you and me.
The women saw an angel in grave. Mark 16:5 Then they saw an angel in white robe sitting on the right side. Luke 24:4 says, there were two men in white robes. May be the one in the right just spoke to them. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Resurrection is a story of angels revealed in the grave of death and destruction. It is very pleasant to note how the ministering angels gather round death and the grave. There is the supporting angel, that ministered to Jesus in the agony of Gethsemane. There is the angel of the resurrection, who rolls away the stones. And still, even in the empty grave, God sends an angel in bright robes shows that there is brightness of hope. There is an angel waiting to minister to you regardless of how bad your situation may be. Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. A Bible commentary reads like this: “Easter is the stationing of loving angels around the grave conducting to converse”’ When you stay close to Jesus, you will see the things others wont be able to see. You will see angels in the midst of death. Hope and resurrection conquer death and destruction.
They saw the linens in the tomb. They found only the clothes, telling them a story that Jesus left the grave. Situations look empty and void, uncertain and fearful. God's promises are there in such places. They comfort us. God’s Word will assure you To know that out of those linens rose the Jesus the King. When we find ourselves tired and weary, God’s word will strengthen us. In Ezekiel 37:1-14 , the prophet asks “will these bones live?” looking at the dry bones in a graveyard. We can think that graveyard is a place of the dead. Ezekiel is talking about a battlefield filled with remains of those who slain in battle. These bodies were abandoned and left with no honored burial. Babylon had subdued Judah and many Jews were taken into exile. For the first 35 or so chapters we see prophecies of defeat and shame. The later chapters talk about hope and restoration. God did not leave them abandoned. God’s promises are that you may seem Dead but not forgotten. God challenged Ezekiel, “can these bones live?” When the spirit of God came across like a breeze on those bones, all of those bones soon rose up at God’s command and became living beings.
When you stay close to Jesus, you will see more than others who are far away. Peter could only see the linen, not the angels. (Luke 24:12). He left the tomb wondering to himself what had happened. We see such stories in Job and Ecclesiastes that teach us that life is not often fair. God brings redemption from hopeless situations. It may not be as quick as with the dry bones. Some situations may take more time.
I want to also tell you what they did not see. What they did not see was what they wanted to see - the body of Jesus who was dead and buried. They came there to anoint the body of the dead Christ. This was their only thought. They had loved Him. They had come to embalm Him. Their spirit, purpose, all are now changed. They went there in sadness to anoint a dead Jesus, but returned in gladness to announce a risen Christ.
If you stay close to see Jesus, you will see life differently than others. There is a hope and victory at the end of every trial and death. You become witness to that.
The angel told them "He is Risen, He is not here" Then adde, "Go and tell the other disciples" (Mark 16:6-7) COME and SEE - GO and TELL. They were messengers of resurrection news.
Comments
Post a Comment