"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Matthew 28:1-6

 April 16

"Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay."

- Matthew 28:1-6 (RSV)

Easter is not a myth of bunnies, dyed eggs, and jellybeans but a historical reality proclaiming the truth of God's resurrection power in the most hopeless of circumstances. Jesus was dead on Friday, no doubt. He had been brutally whipped, beaten, and crucified. Finally, after his side was pierced by a Roman spear, he was placed in a cold dark tomb. An enormous stone weighing over a ton was rolled over the tomb entrance to make sure he was forever locked inside the cold cave of death. Yet when the women came on Sunday at dawn, an angel appeared and told them the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was gone because he had risen. Life danced on the grave of death that day.

As Christ rose from the grave, death was forever defeated, and love reigned triumphant over hate. As the stone was rolled away, Mary's fear and pain were rolled away along with her grief and disbelief. What stones do you need to have rolled away to see the resurrected Christ? Fear? Disbelief? Indifference? Pain? Sorrow? Let God touch you anew today with the incredible reality of God's resurrection power available even in the worst of circumstances. The power that rolled a two ton stone away and brought Jesus back to life is available to you now to bring your shattered dreams, wounded hopes, and spiritual emptiness back to life!

Prayer: Lord, roll the stones away in my life today. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Love is stronger than death.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)