When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 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.’ ” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭8‬-‭10‬
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

We see here that Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb. I wonder what they were thinking on the way there. 1) Could some of the Jewish leaders be waiting to arrest them? 2) Who would they follow now? 3) How heartbreaking that he was gone—he had loved them so well.

They were clearly preoccupied, because they hadn’t even considered how the stone would be rolled away. When life turns upside down and your source of security and comfort disappears, it’s hard to get your bearings.

But then they arrived—and the stone had already been rolled away. They met an angel who confirmed that Jesus had risen, just as he had prophesied (and as the prophets foretold).

I find it remarkable to consider this: though these women didn’t know what would happen to them, though they were bewildered and unsettled, God had already thought ahead and provided for their needs. Their first need? To have the stone rolled away. Their second? To understand that the Savior of the World had risen. An earthquake and an angel were the vehicles he used to meet those needs. Who knows—maybe the angel caused the earthquake?

“Do not be alarmed.” “Do not be afraid.” The angel made it clear: fear and worry did not belong in their hearts. He wanted them to be at peace with God and to trust him.

And then came the promise: they would soon see the resurrected Jesus. What joy must have flooded their souls! Sheer joy! They ran to tell the others. Dread had turned to hope. Worry to calm. Fear to peace. All at the name of the living King of Kings and Lord of Lords—Jesus.

Do I trust that the name of Jesus can banish my dread, eliminate my worry, and break the torment and oppression of fear? Will I let him in to do this good work?

Lord, thank you for caring for these women. They were precious to you, and you loved them. And you planned in advance for their good. I trust you will do the same for me.