It's Sunday!
The hour is late on Saturday. All eleven of Jesus' closest disciples are scattered and exhausted from the relentless pursuit of those who would have them suffer the same fate as Jesus did more than twenty-four hours prior. Mary, the one chosen to birth and raise the Son of God as the flesh of her flesh is speechless. Each time she closes her eyes to try and sleep, horrific images of her unrecognizable son and the sounds of pain that inflicted such results flood her mind. Her only solace is knowing she will stand before the tomb and mourn her great loss tomorrow morning. Mary, along with His disciples, forgot the very words of Jesus in the midst of chaos and the heaviness of physically losing the Messiah. Had they remembered what He spoke to them in the authority given Him by His Heavenly Father, they would have been anticipating sunrise; not dreading or hiding.
It's interesting to me that even the religious leaders who had Jesus crucified trembled in fear at the memory they possessed of His words that declared resurrecting Himself in three days. They were so frightened that His disciples would carry out an act of stealing His body from the tomb, validating a planned fallacy. This fear caused the request for more Roman guards and the tomb to be sealed in the prevention of such trickery. Though they were not remembering the words of Jesus for their own faith, they remembered them none the less.
Somehow, Mary and Mary Magdalene had fallen asleep. Perhaps they slept in the comfort of one another's arms sitting against the inner clay walls of their shelter. Both were facing the window because, at first light, they would make their way to His resting place. The coolest of breezes came through the window subtly followed by the warmth of the first ray of sunlight touching the cheek of Mary, His mother. With an initial sense of disappointment, she quickly awakens herself and brings her thoughts into the present. Mary Magdalene had nestled down a bit, ending up with her head in the lap of Mary. What better place to rest in comfort than in a mother's lap. She's gently nudged to arise. "Come, Mary, let's go to where my son lies." As they walk, the only sounds are that of the rustling of leaves from the morning breeze and birds who in my mind were singing a little stronger and even a different tune that day. All of heaven and nature knew what both women had forgotten.
The biggest revelation I received for why we as Christ-followers gather to worship each Sunday came from the next portion of the story in scripture given to us in Matthew 28:5-6. They approach the tomb to find a surprise scene.
I'm sitting in my home tonight with great anticipation for tomorrow. I know what the recording of scripture has given us. I, along with millions of Christ-followers, know this and still have to be reminded that I am not going to worship the crucified Jesus tomorrow - for He's not there. Many will travel to a place of worship in the morning "looking for Jesus, who was crucified." They will honor Him in remembering His sacrifice on Friday. They will need an angel to speak out as they enter for them to awaken to the reality of which Jesus they should be looking for. The resurrected Jesus, the One who did exactly as He said, is alive! This is the fulfillment of our redemption. So, I'm going to dance and sing with my risen Lord, basking in His manifest presence. May we all have this unity of anticipation. It's Sunday!
It's interesting to me that even the religious leaders who had Jesus crucified trembled in fear at the memory they possessed of His words that declared resurrecting Himself in three days. They were so frightened that His disciples would carry out an act of stealing His body from the tomb, validating a planned fallacy. This fear caused the request for more Roman guards and the tomb to be sealed in the prevention of such trickery. Though they were not remembering the words of Jesus for their own faith, they remembered them none the less.
Somehow, Mary and Mary Magdalene had fallen asleep. Perhaps they slept in the comfort of one another's arms sitting against the inner clay walls of their shelter. Both were facing the window because, at first light, they would make their way to His resting place. The coolest of breezes came through the window subtly followed by the warmth of the first ray of sunlight touching the cheek of Mary, His mother. With an initial sense of disappointment, she quickly awakens herself and brings her thoughts into the present. Mary Magdalene had nestled down a bit, ending up with her head in the lap of Mary. What better place to rest in comfort than in a mother's lap. She's gently nudged to arise. "Come, Mary, let's go to where my son lies." As they walk, the only sounds are that of the rustling of leaves from the morning breeze and birds who in my mind were singing a little stronger and even a different tune that day. All of heaven and nature knew what both women had forgotten.
The biggest revelation I received for why we as Christ-followers gather to worship each Sunday came from the next portion of the story in scripture given to us in Matthew 28:5-6. They approach the tomb to find a surprise scene.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."
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