March 31 | Mark 16:1-8

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DAILY READING

Mark 16:1-8

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REFLECTION

He Is Risen!

by Elaine Pierce

How different will your Easter be from the first Easter? I'm guessing you will wear something springlike (even if it's snowing - it's Ohio in March, after all) and you will enjoy brunch with family and friends. If you have little ones in your life, no doubt you will have fun planning an Easter egg hunt. Oh, and of course, you will go to church. And it will be much more crowded than usual, and someone might even be sitting in "your" seat.

Those are all fun and happy things to do, but they are not the focus of Easter. The women - Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome - these women were doing what Jewish women had been doing for centuries - caring for the dead, honoring their loved ones. They no more expected to see "a young man dressed in a white robe" at the entrance of the tomb than they expected to see pigs flying! And then - to increase their fear and wonder - the young man told them this:

"Don't be alarmed [easier said than done]. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here." (Mark 16:6)

I bet they dropped their spices right there at the entrance of the tomb, as they fled in panic and uncertainty. Mark tells us they were "trembling and bewildered." We know from the other gospel accounts that eventually they told the disciples what had happened, and the women saw the risen Christ, and joined others in worship, in hope, and in joy that their savior had risen.

So today as you gather to worship, to fellowship and to enjoy the Easter festivities, take some time to sit at the empty tomb and listen to the young man, the angel, dressed in white. He is not here. He has risen! Thank the Lord for this incredible gift, and humbly tell others he loves them and this gift is theirs -the gift that lasts for all eternity.

PRAYER

Lord, Easter is so much more than bunnies, candy and egg hunts. Help us to sit at the empty tomb and marvel that you are not there - you have risen, just as you said you would. Thank you for the gift of life, and help us on holy days and "regular" days to worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen.

March 30 | Mark 15:40-47

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DAILY READING

Mark 15:40-47

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REFLECTION

Sideline Spectators

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Which do you prefer, to be an active participant or a sideline spectator? Anyone who has played a sport can tell you that waiting on the sidelines while watching your team play is difficult. Athletes train and train and train. Then they WAIT in the hope of getting called up to participate in the big game.  

In today’s reading the women who had cared for Jesus during His ministry, are in such a place. They were with Jesus and had heard His teaching. They placed their hopes in Him as their Messiah and given all they had to follow Him. They watched as their Master was cruelly crucified. They listened as He spoke from the cross and watched Him breathe His last. They witnessed it all, watching and waiting - from a distance. What do you suppose was going through their minds?

Joseph of Arimathea had also been a sideline spectator. He was part of the very Council that had plotted to have Jesus crucified. As a prominent member of the Council, showing support of Jesus in any way would surely have caused him to be shunned.

And yet it is said of Joseph, that he was “waiting for the kingdom of God.”

This word WAITING has the connotation of confident expectation, an eager anticipation that God would fulfill all the Old Testament promises concerning the Messiah and His coming Kingdom.

Doesn’t it make you wonder what stirred Joseph at this moment? Had he secretly been hoping that Jesus was the chosen One? Yet, as Jesus lies lifeless and dead, He looks anything but triumphant. And the Romans? They used crucifixion to publicly disgrace those who opposed them, often leaving their mounted dead bodies to decay and be picked clean by birds and wild animals.

What lead Joseph ignore his fear and BOLDLY go to Pilate to ask for Jesus' body? We may never really know. He carefully wrapped the body of Jesus, knowing that any person who touched a dead body would become unclean and prohibited from celebrating the Passover. Yet he did it anyway. God took this man, Joseph of Arimathea, who had once stayed on the sidelines as a spectator and emboldened him to do this act of love for Jesus.

Little did Joseph know that he would become part of the Messiah’s resurrection story.

These women too stayed on the sidelines, watching, and waiting. They witnessed where Jesus’ body was laid. God was preparing them to become the first eyewitnesses of Jesus grand resurrection.

Maybe you are in a place of waiting right now? Maybe things you are experiencing don’t make sense? Maybe you feel like a sideline spectator? Take heart my friends, Jesus’ triumphant story is still unfolding. The Resurrected Jesus is coming back in all His royal power and majesty. In the meantime, may we be watching and waiting. And when we are stirred by the Holy Spirit, may we boldly walk into wherever He invites us into His Story.

PRAYER

Jesus, as we reflect upon the events of this Holy Week, we are in awe of all that You have done for us. We know this is not the end of the story. Yet we often find ourselves feeling like we are just sideline spectators. Help us trust You. Lead us and embolden us to follow You as You invite us into the Glory of Your coming Kingdom.

March 29 | Mark 15:16-39

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DAILY READING

Mark 15:16-39

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REFLECTION

The Way of Suffering

by Diane Ward

Prologue:

I was assigned to write this scripture selection. I didn't want to write this one! I would have wanted to write about Mary Magdelene seeing the risen Jesus in the garden. Her agony had turned to ecstasy! I don't know much about mocking and I do know much about suffering as a nurse of many years. Like wounded soldiers nurses keep much of what they have seen to themselves. We must not turn away from Him, the suffering Saviour. We must see Him as He was that day hanging on a cross. 

All four gospels and the book of Isaiah record the mocking and suffering of Jesus. (Isaiah 53:7-12) Something about Him burned my pride away and turned it all to love’s way. The writers of the following lyrics speak to my heart in a profound way that I cannot begin to write.

"Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day, the soldiers tried to clear the narrow street.

The crowd pressed in to see the man condemned to die on Calvary.

He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back.

He wore a crown of thorns upon His head and bore with every step the scorn of those who cried out for His death.

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King.

He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me. Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary." (Billy Luz Sprague and Niles Borop)

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How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss—the Father turns His face away, As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders; Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice, call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished; His dying breath has brought me life—I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom; but I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward, I cannot give an answer - but this I know with all my heart–His wounds have paid my ransom. (Stuart Townend)

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PRAYER

Dear Risen Lord, what a precious gift you have given us, your Son and by Him, our Salvation. May I ever remember the cost and never take it for granted. The price was steep and our salvation results. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.