Mark 16:1-8
The ladies
arrived early.
These ladies
didn’t arrive
early in
anticipation,
but rather to
take care of
unfinished
business. Luke
23:55-56 records
that they had
seen the tomb
and where his
body was laid
after he was
taken down from
the cross. Yet,
they had to
return home
where they
prepared the
spices, and
ointments, but
their work was
delayed because
of the Sabbath.
Even though
Nicodemus, and
Joseph had
anointed his the
Lord’s body, it
was done in
haste, and was
not satisfactory
enough for these
ladies.
Thus, as soon as
they could
following the
Sabbath, early
in the morning
while it was
still dark, they
left their
homes, met
together, and
went to the tomb
of Jesus. One
must admire the
devotion, and
courage of these
ladies. Oh, how
they loved him !
He must have a
proper burial.
It was the least
they could do.
They were
courageous in
what they did.
They did not
fear the
darkness nor did
they fear being
identified with
Christ.
They arrived
expecting.
What did those
ladies expect ?
They expected to
find a body.
They came there
to anoint the
body of the Lord
with spices, and
ointments since
they were unable
to do so because
of the Sabbath.
What do we
expect when we
go to a
graveyard ? We
expect that
there will be
tears
shed...that
there will be
grieving, and
that a body will
be lowered down
in the ground,
and covered with
dirt.
They arrived
entering.
Mark 16:3-4 And
they said among
themselves, Who
shall roll us
away the stone
from the door of
the sepulcher ?
And when they
looked, they saw
that the stone
was rolled away:
for it was very
great.
As these ladies
came to the
place where they
had seen the
body of Christ
laid, they were
discussing how
they would be
able to get into
the tomb. They
had seen the
huge stone that
was rolled in
front of it
after his death,
and knew that it
was to large for
them to move.
Their major
concern was
access to the
body. Apparently
these ladies had
no confidence
that the Roman
Soldiers who had
been dispatched
to guard the
tomb would be
courteous enough
to roll away the
stone. After all
had they not
been instructed
to seal the
tomb...indicating
that it was not
to be disturbed.
Yet, God gave
them access to
an empty tomb.
They arrived
anticipating to
find a stone in
front of the
tomb, but what
they found was
the stone rolled
away, and the
tomb empty !!!
They departed
excited !
What a great way
to leave a
cemetery ? Amen
? We don’t
usually leave
graveyards
excited ? We
usually leave
their in pain
over the death
of a family
member or friend
! Even, if it’s
not someone that
we were closely
acquainted
with....excitement
is not an
emotion we
usually feel
after leaving
the
graveyard...yet,
these ladies
were excited !
The source of
their excitement
was, of course,
the resurrection
of The Lord
Jesus Christ.
Mark records
that they left
quickly and
fled...and that
they trembled
and were amazed
! Matthew 28:8
captures the
moment in a
beautiful
way..." And they
departed quickly
from the
sepulcher with
fear and great
joy; and did run
to bring his
disciples word.
The resurrection
of the Lord
allows us a
different view
of death. Death
is no longer a
dead end. It is
no longer
something that
one must face
with dread, and
despair. Death
is no longer the
enemy of those
who believe
because it has
been challenged,
and conquered by
the Lord.
Because he
lives, we shall
live also. The
Passion of
Christ, and his
death would have
been without any
merit if not for
the
resurrection.
The devil
thought he had
won. Jesus had
died on the
cross. His limp,
lifeless body
removed from the
cross, and laid
in a tomb
secured, sealed,
and guarded by
Roman Soldiers.
Yet, "Surprise"!
Death, and the
grave cannot
hold the Son of
God. He had the
authority to lay
down his life,
and he had the
authority to
take it again !
This Sunrise
morning.........we
worship and
serve a Risen
Lord
Rev. Mike Turner
http://members.tripod.com/therock1ga/
All rights
reserved.
Reproduced with
permission of
author