Can you imagine the women who went to the tomb on that Sunday morning so long ago?

On Friday they had watched, in horror, the torture and crucifixion of one whom they loved. The Bible tells us in the Book of Luke that as they followed the procession that day they mourned and wailed for him. I imagine that they had to be wondering, "How could this have happened?"and "This cannot be!" I imagine that they were praying that God would intervene. They had to be hoping for a miracle. But then they saw his dead body laid in the tomb and a large stone rolled in front of the entrance. They went home to prepare the spices and perfumes so they could anoint the body after the Sabbath.

The Bible is fairly quiet about Saturday although it does say that the women rested on the Sabbath. What a long, sad, confusing day that must have been! Even though their Lord was dead they made no plans to abandon him. They still planned to go back to the tomb on Sunday to anoint the body.

Then the Sabbath was over. The women took their spices and perfumes with them as they headed back to the tomb early Sunday morning. Do you think they discussed what a nice man Jesus was? Do you think they wondered how he was able to do all those miracles but wasn't able to save himself? The Book of Mark says they discussed who would roll the stone away.

They arrived at the tomb and found the huge stone was already rolled away. And Jesus' body wasn't in the tomb! What! Who? How? Where could he be? An angel appeared and asked them, "Why are you seeking the living among the dead?" Can you imagine the surprise, the shock, the wonder, the excitement that they felt? The women ran back to the disciples and told them what happened.

He is risen! Jesus is alive!

The miracle that the women were probably praying for on Friday had been granted. Not in the way that was hoped for or expected but, as it turned out, it was granted in an even more spectacular way! Jesus was not just still alive, he had defeated death! There are many accounts of Jesus appearing to groups of people after the women discovered the empty tomb. I can only imagine the awe, and then the celebration when he appeared. 

Today we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. I pray that you have received the glorious and miraculous gift of salvation that God grants those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, confess their sins to him, and accept him as their Savior. If not, I hope you will receive it now. And if you're in need of a miracle, I pray you will seek God in your situation and that God grants you a miracle that is so much better than any you can presently imagine. He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

Joy

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Joy Goodman is a mom whose mission is to encourage parents and to celebrate joys of being a parent.