Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm that there is evidence that Jesus did arise from the grave and He lives even today!
Here is our study guide: Tuesday: Read again the passage from Matthew 28:1-10. Imagine yourself to be Mary Magdalene arriving, along with Mary, to the tomb. You hear and experience the earthquake and see the angel of the Lord, what are your thoughts? How would you have reacted to the angel’s message, “He has been raised from the dead...”? How could you apply that message to your life and what you may be facing right now?
Here is that passage from Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Today's San Antonio newspaper has an interesting article as its lead article. It is about the way funeral homes are "evolving" to offer now a space for birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, and even weddings. And when you do have a funeral you can order Starbucks coffee and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. All in the name of catering to baby boomers who are dying and who do things differently. I can only imagine the jokes among the groomsmen and the groom who has the first wedding at a funeral home!
We've come a long way in our grief process. We can only imagine the pain and sorrow Mary Magdalene was feeling as she walked towards the grave to conclude the burial of Jesus. She and "the other Mary" had to comply with the law, and because Jesus died at the start of the Sabbath, He was not fully prepared to be buried. The disciples knew that someone, in this case, Mary Magdalene and Mary, had to go and anoint the body with the proper oil so that all would be kosher. On her way there she feels first what she believes to be an earthquake. Scripture says it was the power of the stone being rolled away by the angel. But for these two Marys, I believe they were not ready to encounter what they found. Their thoughts were goodbye thoughts for Jesus, the finality of life at this grave. Instead they find an angel with startling news for them: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him." The passage said they hurried away "afraid yet filled with joy."
Yesterday I shared with you a bit of a phone conversation I had close to noontime. Rev. Ralph Morales called me from his hospital room to let me know about his surgery and how serious it was. He also shared with me, "just in case we face a 'worse case scenario,' the plans he had for his family. Wow, not what I was expecting, and I told him so, I quickly said, "Let's go to God and place this all in His hands and claim a victory!" We prayed and we trusted God, and as the last ConCafe said, I called his room a little after 6 p.m. and he answered his cell phone and he was alive and thankful.
God has the last word in all things, even death. We love God and trust God to care for us and for our loved ones, as did the two Marys on that Easter morning. That same trust and joy in God should carry over into all areas of our lives especially in challenges and opportunities that come our way that we don't expect. Ours is a victory life; make it yours today.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for holding us in Your hands. Speak to us about the fullness of life even in the midst of those things that seem like death. Lead us towards You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
