Before the resurrection there was a crucifixion. Before there was joy there was great pain. Before there was hope there was abject despair.
I found my mind going to the homes of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28: 1-8). The last to leave the scene of the cross, they would not go home to fulfill the law’s requirements for the Sabbath until they had seen His body placed in the tomb.
I can only imagine the sleepless night they would endure. The tears. The grief. The pain. And somewhere in the night they would make the decision to ‘do’ something. They couldn’t bring Him back. They couldn’t stand against Rome or the Sanhedrin but they could take care of His body.
And sometime in the early morning hours they began to pack their basket with the things they would need. Soap and linens to cleanse His body. A comb for His hair. Perhaps a needle and thread to attempt to repair His wounds. A clean tunic. Oil and spices to anoint Him. And then they would wrap themselves in black to begin the long walk up the hill to Him.
I imagine the journey seemed so long. So arduous. Grief saps your energy. Sorrow breaks the spirit. Their baskets must have been heavy on their arms. Their conversation hushed and hopeless as they imagined the scene they would face and the job that was ahead.
But what they didn’t know. What they couldn’t see…..was God holding back an angel who was given the order to bring them good news. I can picture that angel SO ready to go and God saying, “Wait. Just a minute. Let them get up the hill and around the bend.” And “Now.” Stretch your imagination for just a minute as that angel shoots to earth and rolls away the stone and sits on it! (Matthew 28: 2) The scripture says it was an earthquake – I just kind of picture a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier to get there! Can you see him? Sitting on the stone – like, “what’s the big deal?” It makes me laugh. He seems like a cocky angel to me! And he says, “He is not here! He is risen as He said.”
I was reminded that as sweet as their motives – they went to a lot of work to do something that didn’t need to be done. If they had only listened and believed their steps would have been light to the tomb that morning. There would have been no baskets. No heavy loads. Because they weren’t needed! So often we do the same thing. Plan. Pack. Carry……loads that are not necessary.
Easter is the reminder to listen. To believe Him. To remember that what we see is not all there is. Because He lives we can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.
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