It was early on the
Sabbath following Jesus’ crucifixion. Women came to anoint Jesus’ body with
burial oils and spices. Why did they come? It was not for preservation.
Embalming wasn’t something that the Jews practiced. Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of Jesus, and Salome had only one reason in their minds for coming to his
tomb. It was the final act they could do for Jesus to show their great love for
him.
They asked each other who
would roll away the stone. Even knowing a stone blocked the entrance, they
continued in their journey. They had a passion. It was so strong that they
continued on to the tomb. Have you ever had a passion, but let what seemed an
overwhelming problem hold you back? When we often hit a problem or a stone we
give up. These women preserved, and they were about to be rewarded with the
miracle of a rolled away stone.
How many of us give up
when we encounter what seems an overwhelming problem? How many of us don’t
realize that this is the time that faith is meant to take over completely? These
women continued on to the tomb. But what do we do? Do we continue or do we give
up? The problem is meant to make us dependent on God. If Jesus has given you a
vision, remember that it is His place to bring it into being. It is not yours.
Continue on your way, and believe that it is only God's strength that moves the
stone away.
At the tomb an angel met
the women and told them, “He is not here! He has risen!” Think of the impact of
those words! They went to the tomb for one purpose, and left with the joy of
another! From mourning to joy! From death to life! Go tell the
disciples!
Consider what the women
saw that morning, and what an experience it was. We read about it, but if we put
ourselves in their place, we can see how overwhelmingly incredible it all was! A
stone rolled away, and inside there is nothing but the cloths of mourning. And
out in the world, Jesus is alive!
Whatever your passion or
your purpose or your calling, remember the women who would not give up, and the
unexpected joy they found when the odds were against them. They would have
missed the miracle that early morning if they had focused on the stone. When it
seems hope is gone, God puts a miracle in place.
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