April 1, 2024
Monday, April 1, 2024:
Pause. Pray. Read. Be still. Write. Pray. Go about your day or turn in for the night.
Read: Mark 16:1-4 Who Will Roll Away the Stone?
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices,
so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.
(Mark 16:1-4, NRSVUE)
Following Jesus’ death and the Sabbath, the women journeyed to his tomb, laden with spices and burdened with worries. Only as they hastened to the tomb did they consider how they would get to his body, “Who will roll away the stone for us?” Depending on the type of stone used, it could weigh between 1-2 tons (2000-4000 pounds).
But they had not thought about a second problem that also awaited them – how to get past the guards assigned to keep the disciples from stealing Jesus’ body.
When the women arrived, they found both problems already solved. Before they arrived, an angel rolled away the one they knew about – the stone. And the guards that the women didn’t think about had fainted when they saw the angel.
As Christ followers, we often encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable, two-ton stones that weigh heavily upon our hearts and minds. Yet, when we seek Christ diligently and faithfully go about that which God calls us to do, we can make that journey with hope. Like the women, we can encounter the Lord’s divine intervention: angels to roll away stones and remove barriers we thought impassable. Even the problems we don’t know to anticipate or imagine will fall before His power.
Be still and Reflect: When was the last time you or someone you know faced a 2000-pound problem that surprisingly rolled away to clear the path for you or them to move forward?
Pray: Lord God, in my own life, I have and will again face challenges that loom large before me. I can feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to proceed. Remind me of these faithful women who journeyed to the tomb that morning. Encourage me to take comfort in knowing that You are with me and already there, rolling away any stones that block my way, whether they be visible or hidden from sight. May I travel with a steadfast heart knowing Your grace goes before me. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray. Amen.
By His Grace,
Gloria