Sorrow, Surprise, & Wonder

This Easter, we will meditate on Mark 16:1-8 and the three women who were the first to find the tomb empty. After Jesus was crucified on Friday afternoon, Joseph of Arimathea buried Him in his own tomb. The women who had followed Jesus during His earthly ministry witnessed the burial on Friday, and then as soon as the Sabbath had finished, they returned to the tomb to anoint His body with spices. They were surprised to find the stone at the tomb's entrance rolled away, and shocked to see an angel sitting inside. The angel declared that Jesus had risen, just as He predicted. The angel also instructed the women that Jesus' disciples would meet Him in Galilee, and Mark's gospel ends with the trembling women fleeing to share the news. This cliffhanger ending is meant to leave us in suspense and cause reflection. From this moment forward, nothing will be the same. History has found its climax in Jesus walking out of that tomb. Now, this story begs us to consider: how will we respond to the resurrection?