By Tammy Fleming

Kyiv, Ukraine

Matthew 27:45-55 (NIV)

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” – which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

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.”

As we begin our quiet time series exploring women’s journeys to the foot of the cross, I actually want to start with the crucifixion and the darkness, where “many women” stood at a distance; and the journey which ended three days later with the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ. There is an amazing detail in the scriptures which Max Lucado reveals in his poetic commentary, He Still Moves Stones, in a chapter appropriately titled, “It’s All Right to Dream Again.”

Lucado wonders aloud in this chapter, what might have happened if the women, instead of making their way to the tomb that morning, had given in to the doubts and darkness that had to be pressing in on their minds. After all, they were going to visit the tomb of a dead Jesus. They were expecting only to perform a burial ritual for the corpse, and to grieve at the graveside. Though I’m sure Jesus’ predictions about His rising after three days must have been somewhere ringing in their heads, they did not yet truly expect the miracle, or they wouldn’t have brought spices along to anoint the body (Mark 16:1).

 “What if they’d looked at each other and shrugged, ‘what’s the use?’ What if they had given up? What if one had thrown up her arms in frustration and bemoaned, ‘I’m tired of being the only one who cares. Let Andrew do something for a change. Let Nathaniel show some leadership.” (Lucado, p.51)

Look again at that Matthew 28 passage carefully. Notice the order of events. What happens first? 1. The women come to look at the tomb. 2. THEN there is a violent earthquake as an angel from heaven comes and rolls away the stone from the opening and sits on it. 3. Next, the angel addresses the women: “I know you’re looking for Jesus,” he says.  “He is not here, he is risen.”

Wait. When did He rise?

Did Jesus, Lord of Lord and King of Kings, who overcomes the gates of hell and conquers death itself, to whom is given all authority in heaven and on earth, need the angel to open the door of the tomb for Him?

The big miracle, it seems, was already done. Jesus had been up for — probably — a little while already. And the guards, the soldiers at their posts, had had no idea. The tomb was still sealed. And then…

4. The angel says to the women, “Come and see the place where he lay.”

We know that Jesus went to the cross and rose from the dead out of love for every single human being. But God opened that tomb that morning for the WOMEN!

Day 1 – Wednesday, February 17  

Read:  In much of Christendom, today is Ash Wednesday, the official beginning of the season of Lent (which means “spring season” in old English and Dutch). Traditionally on this day, ashes are placed by a priest on the heads of worshippers.  While not a practice in the Bible, this tradition is intended to remind worshippers that, just as we all are created out of the dust of the ground (as Adam and Eve were reminded in Genesis 3:19), our mortal human destiny is to die and return to the dust of the earth from which we came.  

Reflect:  In each one of our lives, our own human nature (the pull of the “dust,” if you will) and the darkness that rules outside the kingdom of God can threaten to dull the luster of the resurrection miracle. I chose Proverbs 10:24 (“What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.” NIV) as a personal prayer focus for this year, in the hopes of catching myself quicker when I am in dusty-old “dreading” mode (fearful, negative, not trusting in God’s intervention or God’s power), and replacing all that darkness with faithful desire. I mean – WHAT IF the Marys had stopped and turned back and gone home discouraged, halfway to the tomb that morning?!

Respond:  What “naturally” human, negative outlook or expectation can I intentionally replace with a faithful desire as I pray today? May God increase my childlike faith as I bring that sincere desire before Him in prayer.

Day 2 – Thursday, February 18

Read:  Mark 4:26-34, John 5:17

Reflect:  It’s amazing to think that when the Marys arrived at the tomb, Jesus was already raised from the dead, even though the women couldn’t see it until the stone was rolled away!  It serves as a reminder that God is working, even when we can’t see it right away.

What has God already done before I see it? When was a time in my life when I realized that God had been working all along for good, even though I wasn’t aware of it until later?      

Respond:  Thank Him in prayer for this and share this personal gospel with someone today.

Day 3 – Friday, February 19

Read:  Luke 8:1-15

Reflect:  Rabbis in Jesus’ day refused to teach women.  Jesus’ acceptance of them among His close followers was unique.

The “many women” who were following Jesus would have heard His parables taught repeatedly; among them, certainly, the parable of the sower, which appears in three of the four gospels. Surely the women searched their own hearts to discover which “soil” could be found, and also to be aware of any rocks or thorns

Respond:  In reading about the seed that fell among thorns which gets choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, consider: Is there anything that is choking the seed of God’s word in my heart that I could address in some way today?

Day 4 – Saturday, February 20

Read:  2 Timothy 1:10; Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26; Hebrews 2:14.

Reflect on these inspiring passages about Jesus’ power over death. Is there any problem in my life that has somehow become bigger than the love and power of God?  

Respond:  As I pray today, ask God to conquer anything that might be troubling me, with resurrection-powered-faith!

Day 5 – Sunday, February 21

Read:  Matthew 6:22-23; 7:3-5

Reflect:  What “stone” (-- or maybe it’s a “speck”?) is blocking me from seeing God at work?

Respond:  Pray for God to move the stone, if it’s a stone, or give me whatever insight and resolve I may need to remove the speck, if it’s a speck.

Day 6 – Monday, February 22

Read:  Acts 9:36-43; Proverbs 28:27

Reflect:  In this story of Tabitha/Dorcas, another woman who is remembered for the many ways she loved and served, it’s inspiring to think about the blessings that come to those who serve and care for others, especially those needier than we.  The Proverbs are full of testimony of the good that comes to those who pay attention to the poor.

Respond:  Plan to go out of my way this week to help someone who has a need I can meet. Let them know that it’s God who loves them and sees them, meeting their need through me.

Day 7 – Tuesday, February 23

Read:  Mark 10:32-34; John 16:33; 1 John 4:18

Reflect:  Fear is a normal and natural human reaction when there is trouble in the world around us. Jesus let us know that troubles everywhere are also going to be “normal,” as long as we are in this world. Am I more fearful these days or more faithful?

Respond:  Commit to intentionally applying faith to my fears. (This does not mean stuffing them, or ignoring them, but rather facing them and learning how to apply faith to them.) Ask someone to join me in prayer for progress and victory in this area.