Faithful to Go

Mark 16:1-4 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
 
WE continue to observe the devoted women (See prior lesson.) tend to their Lord. Their mission was simple: anoint Jesus’ body. Complete the work delayed because of the Sabbath. Perhaps as we would say, they were purposeful to bring some closure to the awful suffering their beloved Jesus had endured. Their aching hearts needed some relief.
   But there was this doubt: who would roll away the large stone? An immovable obstacle would block their work. Should they continue to their task? In the morning’s darkness and the pale of death that hung in their minds, it might have been easier to stay at home.
   But it’s never truly easy to stay at home when the Holy Spirit is moving you to God’s purpose. You can fight it and say, “Not me, Lord.” But the Spirit moves the faithful heart past the fear into action. Surely the Spirit was on the women. How else would they have the faith to walk into an unknown circumstance?
   Faith stirred their mission and set aside their fear. Yes, fear and doubt were in their minds, but these restrictions did not control them. A faithful focus on their work strengthened their steps to go to the tomb and to care for Jesus’ body.
   Their determination is rewarded. How relieved they were to see the stone rolled away! Then they discovered their true mission:
 
Mark 16:5-7 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 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, 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, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
 God had formed the women for a very special purpose. No other people in the world’s history would have the task set before them that day. He had grown them into life and chosen them out of the crowds to be the first to know the tomb is empty!
   They could have easily missed their calling. Fear could have overcome their faith – “Who will roll away the stone? Is it safe to go?” But faith replaced their questions. They had obeyed. Then God rewarded. They become Jesus’ first missionaries to proclaim, “He is risen!”
   When we are faithful to obey him, God’s rewards are beyond our expectations, even into eternal life: Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”