Daily Scripture
Mark 16:1 When Shabbat was over, Miryam of Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya‘akov, and Shlomit bought spices in order to go and anoint Yeshua. 2 Very early the next day, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 They were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” 4 Then they looked up and saw that the stone, even though it was huge, had been rolled back already. 5 On entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right; and they were dumbfounded. 6 But he said, “Don’t be so surprised! You’re looking for Yeshua from Natzeret, who was executed on the stake. He has risen, he’s not here! Look at the place where they laid him. 7 But go and tell his talmidim, especially Kefa, that he is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there, just as he told you.” 8 Trembling but ecstatic they went out and fled from the tomb, and they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.(Complete Jewish Bible)
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Prayer Tip
We ask, “Who will roll away the stone? Who will do for me what I cannot do for myself?” That’s what the three women are asking as they walk to the tomb. It’s not really a question as much as it is a statement about their life and what they expect. Their life has been buried in loss, pain, and death. And they expect it to stay that way. They expect a stone of death too big, too heavy, too real for them to do anything about.
I wonder how often we live not only expecting to get buried but expecting to stay buried. We too quickly forget that for every burial there is an Easter. That’s what the women discovered as soon as they looked up. The stone of death, the stone that blocked their way, had already been rolled back.
But then we hear those words, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn’t here.” The Jesus they expected to find was dead in the tomb, but instead they found a RISEN Jesus. Everything changed for them in that moment, just as everything has changed for us.
Today we are new people. Removed. Unburied. Forgiven and loved. These are Jesus’ words for us, not just today, but everyday. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia, Alleluia.
Jesus,
When everything was dark and it seemed that the sun would never shine again, your love broke through. Your love was too strong, too wide, too deep for death to hold. We pray that this Easter joy will sustain us now and forever more, as we look to you, the author and the perfecter of our faith. Amen (Tino Herrera, Congregational Care Pastor)
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Prayer Tip
We ask, “Who will roll away the stone? Who will do for me what I cannot do for myself?” That’s what the three women are asking as they walk to the tomb. It’s not really a question as much as it is a statement about their life and what they expect. Their life has been buried in loss, pain, and death. And they expect it to stay that way. They expect a stone of death too big, too heavy, too real for them to do anything about.
I wonder how often we live not only expecting to get buried but expecting to stay buried. We too quickly forget that for every burial there is an Easter. That’s what the women discovered as soon as they looked up. The stone of death, the stone that blocked their way, had already been rolled back.
But then we hear those words, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn’t here.” The Jesus they expected to find was dead in the tomb, but instead they found a RISEN Jesus. Everything changed for them in that moment, just as everything has changed for us.
Today we are new people. Removed. Unburied. Forgiven and loved. These are Jesus’ words for us, not just today, but everyday. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia, Alleluia.
Jesus,
When everything was dark and it seemed that the sun would never shine again, your love broke through. Your love was too strong, too wide, too deep for death to hold. We pray that this Easter joy will sustain us now and forever more, as we look to you, the author and the perfecter of our faith. Amen (Tino Herrera, Congregational Care Pastor)
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- The centurion: “This man was certainly God’s Son”
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- A transformed Passover with a cross ahead
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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