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April 2024 — Vol. 1
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” — Mark 16:1-3
Three long, gut wrenching days had passed since they last saw their suffering Lord pour out his life on the cruel cross of execution. Their dreams shattered, their passover feast, at time of joyful, victorious remembrance absolutely ruined as it is overshadowed by the disgraceful death of their beloved Master. The hopes of Messiah overthrowing the Roman kingdom and taking back Israel - in shambles.
All that was left was to prepare His hastily entombed body for permanent burial and then return to a life of hopelessness. No doubt their tortured minds considered a bleak future - one without Jesus. How would they go on? What was the point of the past three years? All the miracles, the joyful times, spent together with their Rabbi - all seemingly gone up in smoke. And now more importantly, who's going to push away that heavy stone?! Little did that sad trio of women know that their lives were about to change FOREVER!
The First Day — EVERYTHING CHANGED!
As they approached the tomb, struggling both emotionally, and under the weight of the heavy embalming spices, their sadness turned into shocked surprise and fear as they caught sight of the massive stone rolled to the side and Jesus' empty tomb open and exposed. Upon entering the tomb they encounter additional shock: an angel in white is waiting on their arrival.
And speaking of angles - why do these guys always think that saying "don’t be alarmed" is supposed to help calm folks nerves?! They go from being distraught to fear, to shocked and scared, to astonished and trembling! Talk about an emotionally loaded morning! The Roman soldiers guarding the tomb were knocked out on the ground! It's no wonder God sent women to make the empty tomb discovery - they can handle those emotions a lot better than men!
Hope Resurrected — He is RISEN INDEED!
The angelic news of Jesus' mind bending resurrection changed their bleak mindsets to hopeful astonishment as they ran back to town to tell the disciples of Jesus. That angel told them that Jesus had gone ahead of them to Galilee.
Friends, just as Jesus left word for his disciples that we was going ahead of them to Galilee and would meet them there, He's done the same for us. We have the same hope! He's has already gone ahead of us and he is the "Firstfruits of the Resurrection. That means that he was the first person to resurrect into a new body, and a new life and just has God raised him from the dead we have hope that he'll do the same for us too.
Whatever thoughts are weighing you down today, just remember Jesus, GOT UP, is in your present, and your future, and you can rest at ease in the hope that He's got you! Drop the sadness, hopelessness, or fear of the unknown, and embrace the truth and power of His Resurrection! Jesus is alive, and because He is alive, we can fully live in peace and joy. Trust Him today - He's the only One who can give you peace. -Shalom!
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
— 1 Cor. 15:19-20
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