VERY EARLY!

 

Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022

 

VERY EARLY!

 

Mark 16:1-6

16 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

 

          It was early dawn when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome and Joanna came to the tomb. They four carried with them additional spices to anoint the hastily prepared body of their loved one and friend. They came early before the harsh Jerusalem heat made the job not only difficult but futile. Their greatest concern was how they would roll away the great stone from the sepulcher.

 

          The small Roman watch had made the tomb as secure as humanly possible. But the guards were now gone because they could not seal the tomb against the heavenly invasion. When the women arrived, there was just one young man dressed in white. Who had rolled the stone away? Was it this youth? His clothing and appearance certainly did not betray the effort for he was not soiled and sweaty.

 

          The young man’s message was that Jesus was not there. He had not been rescued or removed but risen as He said. The stone was rolled away to reveal Jesus’ absence and not to release a captive. “Come see the place where they laid him.” Come and see the emptiness of his tomb.

 

          Paul informed the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:3-6) that Jesus appeared to as many as five hundred at once. His resurrection was not a secret affair. He walked the earth forty days before His ascension. He interacted with people. He ate food and drank liquids. He was not a ghost! Now, after so long a time, we are left simply to believe or not. But if Christ did not raise from the dead, we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor. 15:19).

 

Dear Lord, your resurrection proved your victory over death. I thank you that because you live, we may live also. AMEN