"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." (Mt. 28:1)
I have checked a fair number of commentaries and none suggest that the women came with any expectancy other than to anoint the body of a dead, dear friend and teacher. Had Jesus died and the resurrection had not followed, that is all history would affirm of Him, nice, admirable teacher. To many defeated personages in the world today, Jesus is not the risen, victorious Christ. It is more like, "It was nice while it lasted." Now, with dreams shattered, their religion is just one of going, "to look at the tomb." Yet time and again Jesus told His Followers of His impending death and resurrection. Yet all they would hear was, "....The Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." It happened; now all that was left was to go---------------------- "to look at the tomb."
If Jesus Christ and His Words are living and abiding in you and me, we are as Paul said, "knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." This is that "living hope," which was so lacking in the disciples at the time of our text, about which Peter would later write. He could exhorts us to, "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation," because he witnessed what, amidst the doubts and despair of his fellow disciples, the angel announced in triumphant victory-- "He is not here: for he is risen, as He said. Come and see the place where the Lord lay."
When "doubts and fears assail," it is only the, "As He Said," in Holy Spirit's Power, Who will empower us to go to the "tomb" expecting that resurrection life has triumphed. Jesus is always very clear about the battles of life---- "In the world you will have tribulation; but" (and I'm paraphrasing here) don't worry about it; "I have overcome the world." Accept this; believe this, and the only "tomb" you will be looking at is, "....He is risen (just) "as He said."
Father, in Jesus' Name, if I ever go "to look at the tomb," remind me to instead, "run...the race that is set before [me], looking unto Jesus." Amen.
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When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
