Pray | Father, draw me near to the empty tomb that I might become full. Amen.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
There was a time in my journey when chocolate bunnies and new dresses loomed a little too large for me on Easter morning. Glad to hear of the empty tomb, though not grasping the gratitude and joy that could have gripped my soul and song. I showed up to Easter a little shallow in my faith (a truth, not a judgment), and upon reflection, a little confused on what it all meant. But maybe I was just a little like the women at the empty tomb and the disciples in the upper room, not grasping the reality of what was unfolding.
Read |Luke 24-1-9, 36-39
Luke 24-1-9
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.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Luke 24:36-39
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Reflection |
Startled, troubled and frightened are not likely the words that come to mind when we think about Easter. But if “He is not here, He is risen!” is true, then this changes everything!
If you find your own faith journey sometimes confusing, troubled, or even a little shallow, be as gentle with yourself as the one who beckons you to come and see that He is not in the tomb. In him there is no condemnation, but a calling to come and see what the Lord has done, to feel his touch and know he is near. He is risen, indeed!
Where are you in your faith journey this week? What does the empty tomb mean to you personally?
Today’s devotion was written for and originally published in DailyLife Devotionals for Five Oaks Church
It’s surprising how Christmas is hailed as such a high holiday, but without Easter, he is just an effective Rabbi. Withou Easter, there is truth to what he speaks. Without Easter, there is no salvation.
I am guilty of a shallow Easter celebration. Church, worship, ham w family…but do I truly take in the magnitude of THIS day and what it would look like if we didn’t have it.
I can relate to this. I’m on my faith journey and committing to quiet time every morning of 5 minutes…to pray and listen. I’m a work in progress. Thinking about the tomb last week and Easter…for me it means new beginning…hope…and faith. Thank you for writing and sharing.