¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”  ⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.  ⁶“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”  ⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Meditation

1. Jesus’ resurrection is totally different from what these ladies experienced and expected.  Therefore when the angel told them that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead, the ladies were “[t]rembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”(v8)
2. Often we are just like the women at the tomb.  When we experienced God’s wonderful, unexpected work in our lives, we would be totally astounded.  This means the end of our familiar life and the beginning of our unknown.  No longer am I doing something for God; he is doing something for me.  No longer am I drawn by my needs to God; he is drawn by his compassion to me, whether I’m ready for him or not, whether I feel anything for him or not.  That means you and I are not in charge; he is
3. There can’t be a resurrection without a death.  What area of your life is God trying to put to death that you are trying to keep alive?  What would happen if you relinquish control of it and simply let it die?  What new life might come out of it?  What new faith?  What new hope, new love, new joy?

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.