April 3, 2021
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. Mark 15:47, 16:1 ESV
It is a tradition in liturgical churches to keep an Easter Vigil on the eve of Easter. The ceremony anticipates the resurrected Christ and is often observed with the sacraments of baptism and holy communion, culminating with a celebration during the first hour of Easter morning. Prior to the observance of the sacraments and celebration, a selection of Old and New Testament readings are presented to the congregation, including a passage from the book of Exodus where we are told that God kept “vigil” over the Israelites on the Eve of their exodus (Exodus 12:42).
In the above verse, Mark tells us that the two Mary’s were vigilant: they carefully observed where Jesus was laid and then rose early after the Sabbath to go and attend to his body. Like the two Mary’s, there are times when we find ourselves anxiously waiting for the outcome. We see God initiating, but all we can do is wait. If we choose to be vigilant in prayer and seek the wise counsel of others, we will discover “value in the waiting”. We will sharpen our vision of God’s character and of how he is at work in our lives. Then, we will be prepared for the outcome.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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