Mark 16:1-61And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:1‑6)
ACCORDING to our reckoning, Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday. His body remained in the grave on Saturday (the Sabbath) and He arose on Sunday, the first day of the week. Early in His ministry He had said to the disbelieving Jews: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:1919Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19). They pretended not to understand Him, but after His death they went to Pilate and said: “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.” Matthew 27:6363Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. (Matthew 27:63). So they were well aware of His meaning. But it was not only His enemies who knew this saying, for He said to His disciples, “The Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death... and the third day He shall rise again.” Mark 10:33, 3433Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Mark 10:33‑34).
As Joseph and Nicodemus had placed the body of Jesus in the new tomb, many believing women stood by watching and saw the huge stone rolled against the tomb’s mouth. Then some of them had returned to their homes to prepare spices, wishing also to take part in His anointing. But the Sabbath overtook them before they could return and being faithful Jews they rested that day.
Meanwhile, we learn from other scriptures, that the chief priests and rulers were not so careful to observe the Sabbath but had busied themselves sealing up the grave and setting a watch over it, so that none could enter and take Jesus away. They feared that this might be done by His disciples who would then claim the Lord had risen from the dead. The watch was indeed set and the stone sealed, but these efforts to se cure the grave were of no avail, for, early in the morning on the first day of the week an angel descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone from the door of the tomb. At his presence the keepers fainted away as though they were dead.
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.” vv. 1, 2.
The women knew nothing of the events following their departure from the tomb on Friday evening, but they did remember the great stone and said among themselves, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” Is it not touching to think of these women, meeting together at the break of day and coming to the tomb, their arms laden with gifts of sweet spices and perfumes? “Oh,” you say, “they were not very practical for they should have remembered the stone before they went.” Yes, reasoning would have kept them at their homes until some strong man would accompany them, but love toward their Saviour would not permit tarrying and although they spoke about this proem to one another, they were not discouraged in their purpose.
To their amazement, “When they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away.” v. 4. Then entering into the tomb they saw an angel sitting, and they were frightened. But he saith to them, “Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.” v. 6. Their faithfulness is thus rewarded in being among the very first to learn that their Lord was risen, just as He had foretold.
ML-07/05/1964