Women at the tomb

“The women going to Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter morning could not have been sure they were going to have access to Jesus’ body. What were they expecting to do?”—Ryan
All four gospels relate the account of women going to Jesus’ tomb (Mt. 28:1-8; Mk 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18). Because of Sabbath restrictions the previous Friday evening, the burial had been hurried and incomplete. These friends of Jesus carried with them the requisite spices for a proper preparation of the body (Mk. 16:1; Lk. 24:1).

What were they expecting? The gospel writers don’t tell us. Certainly they were still in the early stages of grief. Beyond that, we might surmise they were hoping for a sympathetic guard who would let them in (Mk. 16:3). Perhaps they were hoping against hope that they would find the tomb unguarded and somehow accessible, even though they had seen the opening covered with a large stone and sealed.

This is the response of deep, unfettered love—love that hopes in the face of despair and acts when all seems lost. This love, driven by an inner impulse beyond mere calculus, looks past the seemingly impossible and finds within itself the will to act. These women would go to Jesus—and deal with whatever they found.

There is one point not to be missed. The women knew Jesus was dead. They had seen Him die and had helped lay Him in the grave. They did not come expecting to find the tomb empty and shining messengers proclaiming His return to life!

They experienced an overwhelming mix of joy, astonishment and terror (Mt. 28:8; Mk. 16:8; Lk. 24:5). They ran to tell the other disciples who were disbelieving and skeptical. The news of the resurrection of Christ from the dead was a complete shock—their subsequent encounter with Him, however, changed their lives forever!

When do you turn to God?

“What’s the trick to remembering that I don’t have to wait until I am at rock bottom until I turn to God for help?”—Grace

This is an appropriate question to consider as we reflect on the end of a year and anticipate how we might do things differently in the next! I am sympathetic to your plight—you have raised the issue which weighs on many of us who wish we knew the quick and easy answer.

Rather than evoking pious platitudes, this query calls for thoughts upon which one may ponder. The “trick”, as you say, lies in developing over time a way of seeing and understanding life which will form the context for greeting various tribulations.

Remember, even Jesus indicated that there will always be trials—such is the way of human existence (Jn. 16:33). These assaults on your mind, body and soul, however, are the very stuff out of which grow genuine strength of character and the ability to persevere in your faith until the end (cf. Lk. 21:19; Rom. 5:3-4; James 1:2-4).

Along the way, allow yourself to appreciate more deeply what God has done for you in Christ (a beautiful description of this central New Testament teaching appears in I Pet. 1:3-5). Contemplate the promises of the life to come (Jn. 14:1-4; II Cor. 4:16-18). Continued meditation on these truths leads to the often elusive peace (Phil 4:7) and hope (Rom. 5:5). You may be surprised someday to realize you’ve discovered that (seemingly impossible) capacity to rejoice in the face of difficulties (Mt. 5:12; Acts 5:41; II Cor. 6:4-10; 12:10)!

Take heart. The One who has overcome will enable you to stand as well (Jn. 16:33; Rom. 8:35-39; I Jn. 4:4; 5:1-5; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17; 3:5, 12, 19-21; 21:7). Think on these things.