Easter Encouragement

During the Sunrise Service, as I was listening to my dad's message and the birds joyfully singing their praise, I was struck by something new, something I hadn't thought of before. I love that God's Word is alive and active; it's always fresh and always new. Dad was explaining how the women went to the tomb and the eartquake that violently shook the earth and how the Angel, sent from Heaven, rolled away the stone, not for Jesus to come out of the tomb but for the women to see with their own eyes that the tomb was empty.

When he said those words, I realized something new, something I hadn't considered before. Perhaps, you have already considered this, but this new knowledge thrilled me and I couldn't wait to share it.

The Bible explains in mark 16, " 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Yes, I knew the women went to annoint Jesus's body, that wasn't new to me, but I was awestruck when I realized they went in complete faith that even though the tomb was completely shut, somehow they would be able to annoint His body, because somehow God was going to provide a way for the tomb to be opened. No, it wasn't at all how they expected, it was far better than their best dream!

The women felt led to annoint Jesus' body, but they didn't have all the answers as to how they would be able to do it....but they still went in faith. Lightbulb moment for me!

God calls all of us to do certain things for Him. We may not have all the answers or details of the assignment.  More often than not, we may not know much at all other than He is calling us to do something for Him and we shouldn't let the unknowning keep us from doing what He calls us to do....and that applies to the little things as well as the big things.
Like Mary and Mary, we should step out in faith believing that He will make a way for us, He will equip us for His good work, and that it is all in His hands. I've got goosebumps! And, yes I've always known this, but not from Mary's perspective. We don't see the bigger picture, but He does and He longs for us to simply be willing and trusting Him for the details. He blesses those who are obedient to Him. What a blessing He had in store for the two Marys. What would have happened if they had chosen to sleep in that day or done something else instead?! Oh, what a blessing they would have missed!

Had you thought about that before in the context of the Easter story? What an encouragement this revelation was to my heart...keep up the faith in all things because He will provide the way!