Mark 16:1-8
1After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought some spices to put on Jesus' body. 2Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun was coming up, they went to the tomb. 3On their way, they were asking one another, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance for us?" 4But when they looked, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. And it was a huge stone!5The women went into the tomb, and on the right side they saw a young man in a white robe sitting there. They were alarmed.
6The man said, "Don't be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was nailed to a cross. God has raised him to life, and he isn't here. You can see the place where they put his body. 7Now go and tell his disciples, and especially Peter, that he will go ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."
8When the women ran from the tomb, they were confused and shaking all over. They were too afraid to tell anyone what had happened.
Easter is a great day of celebration in our Christian faith. It is a time for rejoicing and praising God for what has been done for us through Jesus Christ. But would we be rejoicing if we had not been in a darker, sadder, empty state?
Not everyone goes through extremely dark times, but many of us have. Not all of us have had extreme sorrow, but many have. Not everyone lives an empty life. But I contend that because of grace, God’s love extended to us without us warranting it, we can have meaning and purpose and “new life,” to which the New Testament refers.
I remember a time when I was living in darkness. Oh sure, I was having a good time, but it was pretty pointless, and was not headed anywhere constructive. Fortunately, I believe because of people’s prayers, God’s hand was upon me protecting me, and possibly guiding me to more safe than dangerous places. Who knows?
But there came a time when I was desperately low. I had nowhere to turn but to God. And that felt like a huge gamble, because after all, I hadn’t lived an exemplary life for several years. But something happened as I was taught about God’s “amazing grace”—the fact that God loves us in spite of what we have done. It was as if I could see with different eyes—spiritual eyes. And yes, God definitely was at work in my life, and in the lives of others. Amazing!—to me at the time.
Luke writes about the two on the road to Emmaus that a “stranger” drew near to them and walked with them. They didn’t recognize him, but it was Jesus. Later, as he blessed the bread and broke it, the text says, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him…” What a blessing when our eyes are opened! We see things differently; we can live life differently when we know the Risen Christ is with us. It is like living a new life! May we open our eyes and look for the places where Jesus is walking with us, and working around us, and be strengthened and comforted. May we live in the newness of life that God offers us through Christ.
PRAYER
God of us all, Thank you for Jesus and for his life-giving work in our behalf. Thank you for eyes to see, and ears to hear, and tongues to praise you. In Jesus name, Amen.
George Sutton
