Who's Going to Do It?

June 14, 2023

Mark 16:1-8 | Exodus 14:10-14

Let’s give it up for the women showing up. It surely wasn’t in their plans just three days earlier. And surely they were in grief. But they showed up to care for Jesus’ body.

And on their way, in their grief, they wondered: “Who is going to roll away the large stone from the entrance?” How were they going to get in?

But when they got there, they saw that it had already been done.

If they had stopped on their way, certain of the impossibility of the task, they would not have found out that it was already accomplished.

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Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint Jesus’ dead body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb. They were saying to each other, “Who’s going to roll the stone away from the entrance for us?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. (And it was a very large stone!) Going into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right side; and they were startled. But he said to them, “Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn’t here. Look, here’s the place where they laid him. Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Exodus 14:10-14

As Pharaoh drew closer, the Israelites looked back and saw the Egyptians marching toward them. The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Weren’t there enough graves in Egypt that you took us away to die in the desert? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt like this? Didn’t we tell you the same thing in Egypt? ‘Leave us alone! Let us work for the Egyptians!’ It would have been better for us to work for the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”

But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand your ground, and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never ever see again. The Lord will fight for you. You just keep still.”

Prayer

God,

Thank you for the day in front of me. In the moments when I want to quit or not even begin for lack of resources or knowledge or foresight…don’t let me. Give me gumption for the go.

Use me to be the resourcefulness others need. Even as I continue to learn to receive help extended my way, point me to the places where I can be that help for the people I encounter.

By your Spirit & in Christ,

Amen.