But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
—Luke 24:1-3
Mary and the other women who went to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week had done what they could to be prepared. But they weren't prepared for the reality of dealing with a Lord who can do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think”.
They went, in love, bringing with them what they thought they needed—spices to complete a burial. But the flask of ointment poured over Jesus before the last Passover was all that was needed. They weren't wrong (not in the way we often use that phrase)—they had never experienced what was happening.
When they were met by two shining figures, they reacted in the same way that is recorded for many other cases in which humans suddenly understood that they were in the presence of the divine. Abram, Moses, multiple prophets, Peter and James and John at the transfiguration, the disciples in the boat... the typical human responses included fear, falling to the ground, being too frightened to speak or frightened enough to speak thoughtlessly.
The Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem", contains the line, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." Yes. And the worst fears and barely-dared hopes of humanity met at that tomb with its displaced stone. A stone that was not so much rejected as it was rendered unnecessary, except to become the gate between life and death that was opened in a new direction.
The sight was marvelous in the eyes of those women, and difficult to accept in the ears of those whom they first told. But as the truth of the empty tomb became experienced and confirmed by more, their thanks and praise grew.
Their message had become, "Joy to the earth! The Lord is risen! Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns."
This day, like all others to follow, was the new day that the Lord made.
This
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
—Psalm 118:1, 20-24
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
—Luke 24:1-3
Mary and the other women who went to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week had done what they could to be prepared. But they weren't prepared for the reality of dealing with a Lord who can do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think”.
They went, in love, bringing with them what they thought they needed—spices to complete a burial. But the flask of ointment poured over Jesus before the last Passover was all that was needed. They weren't wrong (not in the way we often use that phrase)—they had never experienced what was happening.
When they were met by two shining figures, they reacted in the same way that is recorded for many other cases in which humans suddenly understood that they were in the presence of the divine. Abram, Moses, multiple prophets, Peter and James and John at the transfiguration, the disciples in the boat... the typical human responses included fear, falling to the ground, being too frightened to speak or frightened enough to speak thoughtlessly.
The Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem", contains the line, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." Yes. And the worst fears and barely-dared hopes of humanity met at that tomb with its displaced stone. A stone that was not so much rejected as it was rendered unnecessary, except to become the gate between life and death that was opened in a new direction.
The sight was marvelous in the eyes of those women, and difficult to accept in the ears of those whom they first told. But as the truth of the empty tomb became experienced and confirmed by more, their thanks and praise grew.
Their message had become, "Joy to the earth! The Lord is risen! Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns."
This day, like all others to follow, was the new day that the Lord made.