1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where Helay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. ~ Matthew 28:1-8
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. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ~ Mark 16:1-8
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ~ Luke 24:1-9
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. ~ John 20:1-10
It’s now Sunday. Early Sunday morning. The dawn hasn’t even fully set, but the women are up. They’re awake, and they’re heading to the tomb. It doesn’t say any men went with them, just the women. To do what? Properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial. What’s interesting about that? Well, who was going to roll away the tomb? Remember, Jesus was laid in the tomb, and a great stone was rolled in front of the tomb, so how would they have gotten in?
Honestly, I believe the women didn’t quite know either. I believe they went in faith that they would somehow get the stone rolled away; they just needed to try. I doubt they slept much the last three nights. But it didn’t matter; their LORD was in that tomb, and He needed a proper burial. When they reached the tomb? The stone was rolled away, but Jesus’ body wasn’t there.
I can imagine the fear shooting through their bodies as they approached the empty tomb. The guards had abandoned their posts. And there before them sat an unknown man. And what does he tell them? Jesus has risen, just as He had prophesied many times. This group of women was the first to see the empty tomb. The first to hear of the good news that their Messiah had risen. That they were not wrong. That He indeed was (and still is) the Great Redeemer. Jesus was alive.
Sometimes, faith needs us to walk blindly. Not necessarily that we don’t see anything, but that we don’t see everything. They had no idea how they were going to get the stone rolled away, yet they went. Not empty-handed either, but with herbs and spices prepared to prepare His body properly for burial. They didn’t know what state His body would be in. Remember, Isaiah said He would be (and He was) beaten beyond recognition. Lazarus was in the tomb for 4 days before Jesus came to raise him from the dead, and Martha warned Jesus the body would have begun to stink when He ordered the tomb to be rolled away. So, imagine the smell of a body that had been beaten beyond recognition. That had been tortured and destroyed.
The women didn’t care, though. They had one mission and one mission alone. Give the LORD a burial He deserved. And when they arrived, the stone had been rolled away. Jesus wasn’t there, but two angels were. Two angels were before them, confirming what they had seen. Jesus has risen. He is risen, alive, and has come into His glory.
Faith requires us to trust. To walk without always knowing where, why, or how. To move even when it doesn’t really make sense. To act when we’re not sure how it will be done. Faith requires us to trust blindly. But, unlike the world, we aren’t trusting in men who can’t see what’s next. Or in demons who can’t assure our welfare. Or in princes, thrones, dominions, or rulers whose power is not their own. We put our trust. Our faith in the LORD God Almighty, who knows beginning and end. Who was, is, and is to come. Whose power is His own, and whose authority known can take away. He who made Heaven and earth. Who established them by His own might and strength.
We may not know the end. But He does. We may not know the how. But He does. All that we don’t know or understand. All that worries us and concerns us. All that keeps us up at night is all in His hands. He holds all things. So, let this Resurrection Sunday encourage you. Let it lift you up. Let it give you hope and strengthen your faith. Jesus did not abandon His followers then, so He will not abandon you now. You have not been left as orphans. You have not been forgotten. He is watching over you. He has and still is preparing a way for you. You need only follow it.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Walk Blindly.
