It is early dawn on Sunday morning and the sky is dark. Those, in fact, are John's words; "It was yet dark..."(John 20:1).
It had been dark since Friday.
Dark with Iscariot's betrayal.
Dark with Peter's denial.
Dark with Pilate's cowardice.
And dark with Christ's anguish.
The only ember of light is the small band of women standing "
afar off" from the cross - watching. Among them are two Marys; Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joses. (Mathew 27:55-56).
They are there watching the body of Jesus and waiting to prepare it for burial. To clean the blood from his beard. To wipe the crimson from his legs. To close his eyes. To touch his face.
They are there. The last to leave Calvary and the first at the grave.
So early on that Sunday morning they leave their pallets and walk out into the tree-shadowed path and make their way to the sepulchre. Theirs is a somber task, for the morning promises only one encounter; an encounter with a corpse.
Remember, Mary and Mary don't know this is the first Easter. They are not hoping the tomb will be vacant. They aren't discussing what their responses will be when they see the resurrected Christ.
They have absolutely no idea that the grave will be empty.
There was a time when they dared to dream such dreams, but not now. It's too late.
The time for miracles has come to an end.
The feet that walked on water have been pierced. The hands that healed the sick have been stilled. And all aspirations have been staked to Friday's cross.
Mary and Mary have come to place warm oils on a cold body and bid a final farewell to the Savior who can save no more. To seal the grave of the one man who gave reason to their hopes.
But it isn't hope that leads these women along the path to the tomb.
It is duty. Naked devotion.
They expect nothing in return, for what could Jesus give? What could a dead man offer?
Mary and Mary are not going to the tomb to receive. They are going to give. Period.
And there is no motivation more noble.
There are times when we too are called to keep on going even when it's dark. Times when we are called to give, expecting nothing in return. To love those who don't necessarily love us. Give to people who will never say thanks. Forgive those who won't forgive us. To come early and stay late. To keep going when all is lost.
Service prompted by duty. This is the call of discipleship.
Mary and Mary knew a task had to be done. Perhaps the most horrid task that has ever been - the body of the Savior, even their Savior, had to be prepared for burial and all hopes, dreams and miracles were going with him.
But someone had to do it. Someone had to keep going even when there was no reason or hope of faith.
I wonder what would have happened if half way to the tomb they had sat down and reconsidered.
What would have happened if they had determined that there just wasn't enough to keep them going and they looked at each other and shrugged, "What's the use?". What if they had given up? What if they had let frustration become defeat and thrown up their arms in surrender and bemoaned, "There's just no point anymore". Or, "I'm tired of being the only one who cares". Or, "Let the apostles do it".
Whether they were tempted to do so, I don't know, but I'm glad they didn't quit. That would have been tragic.
You see, we know something they didn't. We know that God was watching.
Mary and Mary thought they were alone but they weren't. They thought their journey was unnoticed but they were wrong.
God knew and he was taking notice. He was watching them walk that dreary path to the tomb and he was measuring their steps. He was pleased with their devotion and thrilled at their loyalty.
And he had a surprise for them.
For "
behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the [sepulcher]" (Matthew 28:2).
Have you ever thought why the angel moved the stone? Or for whom?
For Jesus?
That's what I always thought. I just assumed that the angel moved the stone so Jesus could come out. But think about it.
Did the stone have to be moved in order for Christ to exit? Did he have to have help? Was the Son of God, who conquered death, so weak that he couldn't move a rock?
I don't think so. Even the text gives us the impression that Christ was already out when the stone was moved. The sepulchre wasn't opened for Jesus. It was opened for Mary and Mary.
Not so Jesus could come out, but so the women could see in. Even so that "
They said among themselves, who shall roll us away the stone? ... And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away"(Mark 16:3-4). "
And the angel said unto the women,... Come, see the place where the Lord lay. [Now] go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead"(Matthew 28:5-7).
Suddenly it's okay to dream again.
The darkness is gone. The sun is rising (Mark16:2) and the Son has risen.
Mary and Mary don't have to be told twice so "
they departed quickly and did run. And as they went, Jesus met them saying,... Be not afraid... I am with you always"(Matthew 28:8-10, 20).
God does that for the faithful:
Just when the womb is too old for a baby, Sarah gets pregnant.
Just when the failure is too great for grace, David is pardoned.
And just when there's nothing more to go for, the angel glows and the Savior shows and Mary and Mary will never, never be the same.
The lesson? Three words; Don't give up.
Is the sky dark? Don't sit.
Is the task dreary? Don't stop.
Is the road long? Don't quit.
God is watching, and for all you know, right at this moment he may be sending the angel to move your stone.
The check
IS in the mail.
The apology
IS in the making.
The promotion
IS on the desk.
Forgiveness
IS awaiting.
And there really
IS light at the end of the tunnel.
GOD STILL SEND ANGELS AND GOD STILL MOVES STONES.
I've always had an eye on Everest and at one point thought to climb it. Yeah, I know... a lot of people WANT to but I was studying up on it. I read all about it, followed the news about it, including the disaster climbing season in '96, and the re-measuring a few years later. Too bad it costs roughly $60 thousand dollars, which I don't have, and oh yah, I'm a weenie... I'd freeze in my puffy-pants on The Hillary Step;
Until now I've always taken refuge in the thought that these kinds of things didn't really exist and were the stuff of bad science fiction. 
