Nougat 31

As we begin with the Well-Loved refrain, ‘He’s not here, Here Risen’, do we remember there’s more? Surely there’s something and at least someone who caused those words to come in focus. Perhaps Today’s Holy Nougat may jog our memory.

“After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb … For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

From Faithfulness and Fear to Fervent Faith-filled Fulfillment

At least two days had passed – what with the sabbath of the Passover and the weekly Sabbath – this was Day Three after Jesus’ death. If four days meant rot and decay, I suspect that the women were rushing to the tomb …

First thing that Third morning …

there was a body to be attended to and no time to waste

… Delay was DANGER!

Moreover, the tradition was for the anointing of a body with perfumes within eight ( hours of death.

The circumstances around this death were such that the body was taken off the cross, wrapped and buried; because the sabbath was upon them. And it was most likely a double sabbath (some would argue it was a whole week of activities owing to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but normalcy of labor would probably have resumed). Whether it was a double sabbath or not, it was the morning of the Third Day, and the women were only then getting to anoint the corpse.

With Jesus being hanged for treason, as an enemy of the Roman State, it was expected that they were being watched. Especially since the local Roman leadership could not tolerate Jesus’ claim to kingship, and crucified Him for it. Yet, there was a contingent of armed guards around the tomb for protective custody, guards who watched Jesus in faithfulness to the Emperor and the Empire! Whether they realized it or not, they were honoring the King of Kings by keeping watch around the tomb!

(Does God have a sense of humor or what!!!)

Despite knowing the guards were protecting Jesus, the women set out early that morning to try to anoint His body. With some trepidation, and *armed with loads of fervent faith-filled determination*, they made their way to Joseph of Arimathea’s burial plot. No, not to the public cemetery, for Joseph had gotten a special dispensation to bury Jesus in His own unused plot. And then, according to Matthew’s narration, before they’d even arrived fully at the spot, there was an earthquake –

Heaven came to Earth, Death was placed in Heaven’s custody! The Stone sealing the tomb rolled away as of by its own will; and an angel visibly appeared as proof that it was not the work of humans.

It was Supernatural!

Fear reigned uncontested for a moment:

the guards collapsed in fear;

I can imagine the ointment rolled in several directions.

It’s possible that the women began to quake and shake.

But because they were the angel’s concern, the women were addressed by the angel. It was a message of God’s Good News – the Gospel truth:

“Do not be afraid;

I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here; for he has been raised,

as he said.

Come, see the place where he lay.” ‭‭

Imagine when those words finally penetrated their fear!

They’d been invited to see the Proof Positive that the Resurrection was not false. Faithful is He Who’d Promised to come back again! Fear was trampled, transformed to Fervent Praise for God’s Faithful Fulfillment of Prophecy. Of all the promises previously made – This One was the Proof Positive that Jesus truly was the Son of God!

Will we join the festivities?

Knowing that when That Prophecy was fulfilled, so would all others made by Jesus, how do we respond?

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May all we seek be found in Christ