Easter Sunday

It's still dark & cold & even a little windy outside. Somehow I picture it being like this the morning when the women were walking to the tomb where Jesus' dead body had been buried. They had prepared spices to anoint His body. They were worried about how to move the stone away from the front of the tomb, as well as perhaps how to work around the guards who had been posted in front of it.

Matthew's account tells of a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord came down from heaven, went to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white like snow. The toughened guards were so afraid that they shook and became like dead men. The angel announced to the women that Jesus was not here, for he had risen, just as he had said. They were not be afraid, but to go quickly & tell His disciples.

Matthew describes the women's reaction as being afraid, yet filled with joy. As they were running to tell the disciples, Jesus met them and greeted them. They clasped His feet & worshiped him.

In Mark's gospel, there is a note that most reliable early manuscripts & other ancient witnesses don't have Mark 16:9-20. Verse 8 says, "Trembling & bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." I find this an interesting way to end his account. It's not necessarily the ending where everything is resolved, like in many older American Christian stories. It leaves some things hanging.

But the reality of this account is something I find appealing. It reminds me that Almighty God can handle our messy feelings of bewilderment & fear when things aren't going as we expected around us. The story continues.