Making Everything Ready

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

MAKING EVERYTHING READY

Matt 28:1-7

28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.   3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

NIV

The other accounts of this time early in the morning of the third day have a few other details, however, all are, in essence, the same. The women were bringing more spices to anoint the body of Jesus, which would indicate to us they did not understand Jesus when he said that he would rise in three days. However, according to the other accounts, they were not sure how they would roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb. It was heavy, and we do not know what they were going to do about it being sealed and about the guards. It is interesting the seal and the guards were still there when Jesus was not. He did not need the stone to be rolled away to exit the tomb for it was not until the angel appeared alone with the violent earthquake and that he was the one who rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was such the guards had a very violent reaction, almost like a stoke, or heart attack. We do not know if they died, for the Greek reads, they become in the manner of dead men. They appeared to be dead, although maybe not dead. Nevertheless, the point is that the women did not know how they were going to get the stone rolled away, but God took care of it for them. It also shows us that God is all-knowing because he knew the ladies were coming to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, although he had a surprise for them by sending the angel to tell them Jesus was not there, he had risen, just like he said he would. We can be assured that is God, if Jesus says he is going to do something, it is going to happen, and he will always do that which he says he will do. These are our two takeaways. First, God will take care of our situation, He will lead us, he will go before us, and be with us in all areas of our life. When we are going to face a situation, we only need to know that God has it all covered. Second, Jesus always does what he says he will. That means that he has already or is still in the process of preparing that place for us, as he said he would. And, if he said he would prepare a place for us, that he would return to get us and take us to that place so that we can be where he is. That is a fact, a truth we can count on. It does not even require faith, which is defined as the substance of things not seen yet hoped for. The fact is we do not need to hope for it, of hope it is true because it is true, Jesus has never lied, he has always told the truth and therefore we have no doubt whatsoever it will happen just as he said it would. Plus, just as God went before those women, making everything ready for them, Jesus has gone before us, making everything ready for us.