Gospel

The First to Know

by Roland Crim
06/16/17
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On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-8 NIV

The first ones to learn that Christ was no longer in the tomb were not His disciples. Why were they not at the tomb early that Sunday morning? Christ had three times told them He would rise on the third day. Did they expect to find Him risen later that day? No. Even though Christ had thrice told them that He would rise on the third day, they were not prepared. Their minds could not understand what He had told them. These men who had spent three years following the Lord daily could not even understand the truth of the words which our Savior spoke to them.

Instead, it was the women who had followed Christ that first discovered His absence from the tomb. And, what a profound message to receive from two angels dressed in dazzling white clothes. They were looking for Christ in the wrong place. The living are not to be found in the tomb. Among these women was Mary Magdalene, the one who had poured the perfume on His head just a few days prior to His burial. From the passage above, I suspect there were at least a half dozen women who had gone with spices to the tomb. They received a message beyond belief, beyond comprehension, and yet, one which is the absolute truth.

What an amazing and truly beautiful experience this was for those women. And, today, each of us can experience the risen Lord in our lives. He is here for each of us. He has told us that He will not turn away anyone who comes to Him with a humble and contrite heart, willing to accept Him as their Savior.

May our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, be in your heart, mind, and soul for ever and ever, AMEN!!