Daily Prayers

Prayer is Love, I want to Love

The Women At The Tomb

Jesus’ Life: Chapter 19 – The Resurrection Of Jesus

Time: Easter Sunday at Dawn

Women outside Jesus' tomb

At dawn on Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James the Lesser (son of Alphaeus) and Salome the Mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John) went to Jesus’ tomb, carrying “aromatic spices” to anoint his body. Although Nicodemus and Joseph of Armithea had “wrapped it with aromatic spices” at the time of burial, the women may not have been fully aware of their deed or they may have wanted to make their own additional gesture to the one they loved so much.

On the way, the women were concerned about who they would get to roll away the large stone to Jesus’ tomb but as they arrived and looking up, to their great surprise, they saw the stone already rolled back!

As the women went into the tomb, they saw a “young man dressed in white sitting on the right side”. He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you”. (Mark 16:6-7)

Disciples running to see Jesus' empty tomb

The women then ran to Simon Peter and the other disciples and told them everything that had happened.

The disciples (and the women) immediately set off running for the tomb and when John, the first to arrive, bent down to look inside, “he saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in”. When the next disciple arrived, Simon Peter, “he went right into the tomb… saw the strips of linen cloth… and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus’ head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself”. (John 20:5-7)

As John joined Simon Peter inside the tomb and seeing, “no signs of haste or confusion” (Pulpit), he believed that, as Jesus had promised, He had risen from the dead. (John 20:8) (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-13)

Thought

What is the greatest event in the history of the World?

Jesus’ resurrection, of course.

Reflection

Lord Jesus, we no longer look for you among the dead.

As we celebrate your resurrection, strengthen our determination to share your Gospel with our family, friends and the world. Amen.

Prayer: Day-by-day (St Richard of Chichester)

Praise be to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
May, we see you more clearly,
Love you more dearly,
and follow You more nearly.
Day by day. Amen