PREPARED FOR AN UNDERTAKING
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,” Luke 24:1-2, ESV
Theme: Jesus’ followers returned to the tomb to follow through with caring for Him after His death and were surprised to find the stone rolled away!
UNDERTAKING
Serving God in a profoundly unglamorous way, a few women found themselves in a position to be the first to discover that Jesus was not in the tomb! “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him” (Mark 16:1, ESV). It had been a few days since Jesus died on the cross and had been placed in the tomb. No one approached the tomb during the holy days. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome waited until they were willing to become ceremonially unclean – touching the dead they surely would be. While caring for bodies after they have died is a necessary job, to show respect and for sanitation, it is also a taxing and under-appreciated one. In our culture, we pay professionals to handle it for us. I can’t imagine handling and preparing the remains of a loved one myself. It is a strange combination of intimate and disgusting.
Jesus’ body would have been profoundly damaged because of the way He suffered and died. I wonder if the women had much experience preparing bodies. Had they gone to see parents, children, siblings or friends to anoint their bodies after death? The goal was to “take” a body and prepare it to go “under” the ground for burial. The task could rightly be called an “undertaking.” Yet they were not able to complete the undertaking they expected and instead received a new one.
REDIRECTED
Our last Life Group meeting was unusual. Our Life Group director found out about a little job and asked if we could take it on. We met at church with supplies to hang pictures for a widow who lives close by. With a small gift basket, a hammer, nails, and command hooks, we drove together to meet our new friend. It helps to do something unknown together. I was nervous that we couldn’t complete the task, that we would be imposing, or that we might not make her feel loved and cared for as the Church should.
“And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Luke 24:2, ESV). Like the women who prepared for a task in today’s Scripture, we prepared. Mary, Mary, and Salome found the stone rolled away – actually a concern they had discussed. “And they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?’” (Mark 16:3, ESV). The barrier was moved (for them and for us). God made the way.
The six of us had a lovely visit while we hung pictures and heard stories about the loved ones in them. We accomplished some of the tasks we planned and made a new connection. The hesitation of showing up in a new place can be overcome. We might have gone to serve, but God rolled away a stone and allowed connection. The women went because they planned to anoint and prepare Jesus’ dead body for burial, but instead God gave them news about His resurrection.
Make It Personal: What undertakings are you facing that cause concern or worry? What “stones” do you worry need to be rolled away? Remember the God you serve and His past record of stone rolling and way making! Praise Him even before you see what He will do. Remember what He has already done.
Pray: Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross. Thank You for including us in the story. Like the women who came to prepare Your body, to complete a great undertaking, help me to be willing to do the work. Thank You for the times You surprise us by taking away a grueling task and replacing it with a revelation. Those women expected some dirty work and instead they were the first to receive Good News! We know You don’t take away every hard task yet thank You for the times that You do. Help us to remember that Your work is enough and that death doesn’t have the final say. Help us to remember You when life feels like one big undertaking. You are good to us. You are making all things new, including broken and beaten bodies. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, ESV