Mark 16:1-9
We are on holy ground when we consider this scene. Here we find three women coming to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus Christ: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome. The day before had been a day of great sorrow and pain for these women. But still they come. They are together with one purpose; they take their responsibilities seriously; they know their part. We know from John 20: 1 that it was ‘yet dark’. We can ponder as to why these women came so early. We know this, that they were there first, before the men. Perhaps a sleepless night knowing what they must do, perhaps some anxiety about the authorities and the hostility of the people. Or maybe that they could not wait any longer to go to where He was (as they thought). According to Luke 23:56 they had rested, ‘according to the commandment’, in relation to the Sabbath, and it is likely their practice was to rise early to get on with the work of the day. We think of the virtuous woman in Prov 31:15,18: ‘She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens … her candle goeth not out by night’.
And we know that they were prepared, that there was cost involved. Luke 23:56 says they ‘prepared spices and ointments’. They acted out of their devotion and love for the Lord. They ‘came with him from Galilee’ (Luke 23:55): they did not want to leave Him. And as they came that morning, they knew that there might be difficulties. ‘Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?’ But still they came. And verses 4-6 describes that what they found far surpassed any expectations: the stone rolled away, an angel inside the sepulchre, a message of resurrection and hope: ‘he is risen; he is not here’. They saw evidence of death and of burial: ‘behold the place where they laid him’. Verse 8 explains that they left the sepulchre quickly. They were amazed and frightened, they did not have full understanding at that stage. We know from other scriptures that Mary Magdalene came back to the sepulchre later, weeping. It seems she thought His body had been stolen. Verse 9 says that the Lord appeared first to Mary Magdalene and there is more detail given in John 20. She was the first to hear the voice of the risen Lord. She was the first to see Him. He was patient with her as she was upset and not understanding what had taken place. He said her name. He gave her responsibility. What a privilege!
And what about us, have we heard the voice of the risen Lord? Do we come prepared to meet Him, to show our devotion and love for Him? We read of these women and we are encouraged by godly women today who set us an example. They bring their portion, they come early. The Lord turns their sorrow to joy. He brings victory in a place of death.
Paul