8-5-2022

Good Morning!    

                 John 20:1; “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”

      It must have been tough that Sabbath day especially for the women.  They had stayed and watched Jesus die.  They went with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to bury Jesus, but it was late, and the Sabbath was rapidly approaching so they did a quick preparation of the body and then would return after the Sabbath to finish the task.  The wait on that Sabbath must have been hard.  Of course, according to Jewish customs, you would so no work on the Sabbath so what would you do to occupy your time and your thoughts?  Many today will wash clothes, or wash the table and do the dishes or they will sit down and write out lists of things that need to be done but if you are not to work, and all of this would constitute work, what would you do?  Then there would have been the night; probably a long and restless night and she was up early to get to the task at hand.  She was ready so early; it was still dark but off she went.

    Do you ever have times like that?  Do you ever experience times of stress and times of pressure?  How do you handle it?  Do you try and keep yourself busy and occupied and try to keep your mind off of things or do you just sit and mull over what is happening?  Do you keep replaying the events or wonder what tomorrow will mean?  Have you had nights when sleep was slow in coming and then there comes that tipping point, when you have to decide that it is too late to sleep now so you might as well get up?  Do you have times like Mary Magdalene had?  Then do what Mary Magdalene did; go to Jesus.

    Mary went expecting to prepare Jesus’ body for a proper burial; what she received was a total change in her life.  You and I may come to Jesus for all the wrong reasons bur he can and will heal you and give you hope and, especially on those sleepless nights, he can give you peace if you listen to him.  When you are troubled, fearful, or lost do what Mary did; go to Jesus.  Open your heart to him, speak to him and let him hear your fear and your pain.  Don’t wander the house looking for things to take your mind off of your hurt; go to Jesus and let him heal the hurt that you have.

    Jesus invites all who labor or are heavy burdened to come to him.  Jesus told us that not a sparrow falls without God knowing it, so he knows your pain and fear.  He invites you to come to him and to unload this fear to him.  You don’t have to stay up all night and worry; you don’t have to keep on stressing about the many “what ifs?”  God has your answer; so, don’t just wait up and worry and fear.  Go to Jesus so that you can be healed.

Gracious Lord, lead us to come to you.  Lead us to bring the burdens and the struggles of our life to you.  Send your Spirit of comfort and peace that we mat know the joy of the contentment that you offer us freely.  Keep us in your loving arms.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior and King we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret