Mark 16;1-8 (The Message)
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, “Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?”
4-5 Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.
6-7 He said, “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He’s been raised up; he’s here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, exactly as he said.”
8 They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone. (for they were afraid. RSV)
They were afraid! Who wouldn’t be! Something mind boggling had happened!
They were alarmed, affrighted, amazed, astonished, dumb founded, bewildered, terrified - for something too terrible or too wonderful had happened and they couldn’t make heads or tails of it - YET!
So they ran away. Yet hidden in their fear was the spark of hope which was too wonderful to believe - YET!
They were the first to feel the hope that does not disappoint, the truth that God is for us, not against us. And as their fear gave way to hope they dared speak about what had happened.
Easter is not just an oddity in history, an isolated act of God’s power. It is “The new action of God whose province (specialty) it is to create new futures for people and to let them be amazed in the midst of despair.”
“Amazed in the midst of despair.”
Amazed that there is a God who will not forsake us, ever.
Amazed that there is a love which is greater then all the hate, and nothing can separate us from this love - in this world or in the next.
Out of our fear comes our hope and out of our hope comes our living as those who are been loved eternally!
Easter is “The new action of God
whose province (speciality) it is to
create new futures for people and
to let them be amazed in the midst
of despair.”
Anonymous
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, I too am amazed, even dumb founded by the
thought of a Resurrection. Yet I dare believe it happened. Help me to live in the joy of this truth, today and always.”
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