Thought of the Day !!

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. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 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. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you."
Mark 16:1-7 (NRSV)

The women had evidently lost their hope. They were going to anoint a dead body instead of welcome a risen Savior. These have been the most faithful to Jesus. They were there when all the men abandoned Jesus. They cried at the foot of the cross and are now trudging towards the tomb to anoint a body that's already begun decomposing. Yes, these ladies were truly committed to Christ.

But even they have fallen short of the understanding of what Jesus told them. They were told by Jesus himself that he must die and would rise. But evidently, they forgot. And so they had lost hope.

Another one who had lost hope was surely Peter. The women get to the tomb, and the "young man" tells them that Jesus has risen. Then he tells them to share this good news with the disciples "and Peter". I love this wonderful nugget of God's grace. Peter had not only abandoned Jesus with all the rest, but he..."the Rock"...the leader of this ragtag group...the one who would never leave Jesus' side...had denied Jesus not once, but three times just as Jesus had predicted. Peter must have felt lower than dirt. God knew this. And so God's messenger shares with the women that Peter really needs to hear this good news. Peter really needs a lift. Peter must know that everything is not lost.

Have you ever been in Peter's shoes? Have you ever needed this same message of good news? The women had lost their hope. Peter had lost his hope. And maybe there's been a time or two where you have come close to losing all hope as well. But the good news of Christ's Resurrection is that there is hope. There is always hope in a risen Savior who can overcome even death.

May the hope of Easter go with you throughout the rest of the year and sustain you.

Christ is Risen!
Christ is Risen Indeed!

In the love of Christ,
greg