"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Mark 16:5-7

Can we ever grasp the true enormity of the resurrection? The answer is no. It’s more than we can comprehend. It goes against the finality of death. For the women it jarred with the grieving process they were going through. Their first reaction wasn’t a triumphant ‘He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.’ It was alarm, fear, bewilderment, and physical shaking (vv. 5, 😎. Given a clear commission by the angel (v. 7), they fled. They didn’t tell anyone. They didn’t understand.

The angel’s words were clear and simple.

First, understand that Jesus doesn’t belong here among the dead (v. 6). He has overcome the power of death.

Second, go home to Galilee, where they will meet Jesus and be commissioned (Mt 28:18-20).

Third, remember what he told you (v. 7). In God’s purposes, there is no surprise. This is how it was planned to be. This is what Jesus had tried to explain to his followers. If we are willing to follow his teaching on ethics and love, then we should follow this too. God’s victory over death and evil that we celebrate today is overwhelming.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the fulfillment of your promise in your Son. Lord Jesus, I praise you for your victory in the resurrection. It is with wonder and gratitude that I celebrate this day, this day that guarantees my place with you in heaven (edited from Encounter with God).