Encounter: Empty Tomb

Scripture: Mark 16:1-7 NLT

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Just three days earlier these women witnessed your death on the cross. Their sadness and confusion must have overshadowed any hope they had. Resolved to commit one last act of love by anointing your body, they, instead, encountered an angel revealing an empty tomb. You had risen, just as you said. This wasn’t the end of hope; this was the beginning of wholeness and new life! When I am overcome with the chaos of this world, the resurrection is a reminder that you have overcome it all, and you have, and will, fulfill each promise of victory.

Amen.

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