Key Verse: "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You
are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen!
He is not hear. See the place
where they laid Him."
Mark 16:6
Wouldn't you think that, of all the events in the Bible,
this one, the most crucial one, the gospel writers would have conferred and
compared notes and tried to get an accurate account of just what happened? Was there one angel or two? Was Mary alone or was she with other women,
and which women at that? Did they touch
His feet and worship Him, or did Mary begin to touch Him and Jesus stopped her? Was there an earthquake? Why don't all four gospels at least mention
that? Why did the women bring more
spices? Didn't Joseph of Aramathea and
Nicodemus take care of that preparation while they were placing Him in the
tomb? Did the women leave in fear and
tell no one or run to the disciples who still didn't believe them? Actually, the lack of clarity tells of the
excitement around the event. The main
fact is that Christ has risen. He has risen indeed!
Today, the commemoration of this event is accompanied with
much celebration. We use this day as an
excuse to buy new clothes, eat lots of rich, fun food, and fill our worship
with joyous, celebratory music. Our
celebration is a far cry from how those who actually lived the day experienced it.
Most of those who would have rejoiced at the news of
Christ's resurrection were still hiding in fear. Probably part of the reason that the women
first came to the tomb at dawn was that the light would still be poor and there
was less chance of being seen. They were
still sad and in deep mourning. The
women were just going to finish the job of proper burial that couldn't be
finished on the day of the crucifixion because of the strict adherence of
Sabbath rules. They weren't headed to a
sunrise service with a song in their hearts.
They trudged along in mourning.
Even at the tomb, there wasn't instant belief and
recognition. Everything didn't click
into place as an "aha moment."
For the women, there was probably bewilderment on top of their
grief. The body was gone and some
strange man, or men were saying, "He's not here for He has
risen!" But, what exactly did that
mean? For them, it would be like talking
about the wonders of electricity or the airplane. The angels' message was out of their
comprehension. No one rises from the
dead! Sure, some day all may rise from
the dead, but just one man, alone? How
could that even be possible?
When the disciples heard the news, they were just as confused. "They did not believe the women, because
their words seemed to them like nonsense."
(Luke 24:11) Can you blame them?
In Luke, only Peter went to check out the situation. But in the gospel of John it's recorded that he, John, went with Peter and actually got there first, but didn't go in. Peter did that first, then John. Only after they saw the tomb, does John say
that, He, at least, believed, but there still wasn't comprehension.
As dawn approaches with just a sliver of light on the
horizon, so was the resurrection. Most
people knew nothing of it just as most do not notice when that first line of
light appears for a new day. No angels
sang to announce the Lord's victory over death as they had sung to announce His
birth. God's whole story began with small beginnings. I mentioned that way back on day four of our devotional calendar, when we noted that God's plan of redemption was set in motion, when one man, Abram, left his comfort zone and began an adventure with God in a new land, the land of Canaan.
The resurrection, God's victory over death was quiet and unseen. Yet, when exactly does the sprout of that first fruit appear? Is it noticed? "No," but its harvest is unmistakable. So it was on that day, almost unnoticed beginning, but with unmistakable results! The Lamb is risen. "To God be the glory! Amen!"
The resurrection, God's victory over death was quiet and unseen. Yet, when exactly does the sprout of that first fruit appear? Is it noticed? "No," but its harvest is unmistakable. So it was on that day, almost unnoticed beginning, but with unmistakable results! The Lamb is risen. "To God be the glory! Amen!"
Kids version: Christ the Lord is Risen
Today
Grand version: Christ the Lord is Risen
Today
Comments
Post a Comment