Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)
Read Mark 16:1-8 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 16When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. Verse 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. Verse 3They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" Verse 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. Verse 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. Verse 6But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. Verse 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." Verse 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Devotion
Resurrection Day is both an interruption in the expected pattern of the world but one we should have seen coming all along. The opening word of ELW 367 is "Now." "Now all the vault of heaven resounds," as if the heavens have been waiting for what God promised. Now Christ is Lord. Now the forgiveness of sins. Now the resurrection of the body. Now the life everlasting. All are now fulfilled. Now Christ has triumphed, he is now living!
I've only recently noticed the second part of that first line, which reads, "in praise of love that still abounds." The love of God that was shown since God created the heavens and the earth—it remains. It is still here and furthermore, it abounds still. The resurrection of Christ is God's love still abounding.
Prayer
God, give us new eyes to see what you are doing new, and what you have always been up to. Amen.