READ: Mark. 16:1-8: …He is risen! He is not here…. But go, tell His disciples and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. they went out quickly …
The mentioned women followed Jesus during His life. They served, especially in His final phase. While the disciples fled from the cross, they watched from a distance. They are eyewitnesses to everything that happened on Golgotha. What must have gone through their souls!
After His death and burial, they remained at His tomb for some time (Matt. 27:61). Then they went home. But as soon as possible, after the Sabbath, they returned to His tomb early in the morning with spices to anoint Him. This is the only thing they can do. His resurrection from the tomb does not cross their minds.
On the way, they experience something remarkable: a great earthquake (Matt. 28:2). Then they are at the tomb but see that the large stone has been rolled away. They enter the tomb and find a young man, dressed in white. He reassures them: Do not be afraid. The angel knows they seek Jesus: “You seek the Crucified, the One who is dead.”
In their minds, He still is: that’s how they seek Him. But don’t they realize that He repeatedly said He would rise on the third day? They are too preoccupied with what is visible and ended up at the tomb. The same goes for the disciples (John 20:9).
But now they hear such a wonderfully glorious gospel that should remove all sorrow: “He is raised! He is not here”. There is some reproach toward the women in that. Didn’t He say He would rise, as He had promised?! God did it. And the proof is the empty tomb.
What overwhelming news for women who were stuck in the death of their Savior. Jesus is already gathering His church. In Galilee, He will give His disciples further instructions. There, they will see Him.
Yet the message is so extraordinary that the fear is not yet gone from them.
Do you know any blockages to believing the whole Bible?
Singing: Hymn 26:1 (1984), 31:1 (2014)