Easter Sunday I woke up early to pay my respects to Jesus for what occurred that day some 1,971 years ago. I picked up my Bible and read the judgment, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ in Matthew and Mark. For a moment think about what's going on here. See what's going on here.
Jesus Christ has been removed from the cross and put into the freshly cut tomb given to him by the disciple Joseph. A large stone was rolled in front of the tomb and a sealed placed on it by the Romans. The priest who had Christ crucified placed 2 guards at the tomb out of fear that someone would take his body and claim he had risen.
Christ died on a Friday afternoon and was placed in the tomb before the Sabbath which was Saturday. That next day, Sunday, his family was able to return to the tomb to take proper care of his body. I can imagine it was a sobering morning, very quite, little said, little eaten. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James both knew this would be the last time they would be able to touch or see Jesus. They gathered perfumes, oils, and cloth to clean his beaten body. They gathered their things and placed them in a basket and opened the door to walk outside. Today was a particularly beautiful day but they didn't see this because they had other things on their heart today. They walked together through the city streets holding each others hand knowing they would have to look upon a man they deeply loved beaten, bruised, cut. They would have to clean his blood from wounds inflicted by those who didn't know him. They would wipe the spit and dirt that had dried and still stuck to his face. They would clean him and wrap him one final time.
As they walked towards the tomb their heads would have hung low. Their eyes fixed on the ground only a few small steps ahead of them. They walked down the path and to the potters field. Mary and Mary Magdalene came around the turn and seen the two soldiers laying on the ground as if they just fell over. "Are they dead?" one would ask the other. "I don't know." she would reply. The stone in front of the tomb had been roll back and they seal torn. Inside a brilliant shimmering light was spilling onto the walls. Like a mother protecting their child they rushed forward to protect their Jesus. But there sitting on the stone where Jesus was to be laying was a man in white that glowed like lightening. "I know who you are looking for. But Jesus is not here.He has risen!"
Both of the women would of fell on their knees now knowing with no doubts who Jesus was. "Go back to the others and tell them Jesus waits for them in Galilee and it's there they will see him." So they ran knowing. KNOWING. Jesus is the son, the living son of God.
There they were 1,968 years ago, not knowing and believing. It wasn't until he died and defeated death did they know. Doubt was destroyed and faith reigned. Here we are now with the word of God complete and knowing exact what Jesus is and what he wants from us. It isn't a basket with perfumes and oil that he wants from us. It's our friends and family. Our neighbors, the sick, the outcast, the proud, and the scorned. Jesus didn't suffer, die, and defeat the undefeated one for the saved but for the sinners.
Now You Know.
