Second Easter Season Message 2012
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. [2] And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. [3] They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" [4] When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. [5] As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. [6] But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. Mark 16:1-6
The three women of our gospel story go forth in sorrow but also in love to anoint the body of Jesus. There is one great obstacle in their way, the great stone which blocks the tomb. They knew it was there for they had been discussing it as they walked along and wondering "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" It would have been easy for the women to stay at home knowing the stone blocked the entrance to the fulfillment of their desire to anoint Jesus’ body, and it was highly probable that there would be no one to roll the stone away for them. As easy as it would have been to stay home, they went forth because of the glimpses of God they had caught in Jesus and their love of Him. They traveled with uncertainty but had faith that something or someone would help with the stone’s removal. These women, because they continued forward in the face of the stone become the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.
Too often we are aware of stones blocking the path of our life and either we do not set out on the road or we stop along the way feeling it is useless to continue. We feel the obstacle(s) are too great. We are reminded in this gospel that we have a God who moves stones and opens doors. That God in Jesus, has unblocked our life of the greatest stone, death, which now allows us to live life abundantly and eternally. It allows us to move forward with confidence because we know that God loves us and works for our good in all situations.
During this Easter season, remember the stones, great & small, which have blocked your path that God has rolled away. Remember also the doors God has opened when others were closed. And with thanksgiving in our hearts, let us remember that there is nothing in all creation which can separate us from the love, which is ours in Christ Jesus, of the creating and sustaining God of the universe.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you,
Pastor John
