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Lenten devotions 2008

MARCH 23 - EASTER JOY
By Tamara Shantz, assistant campus pastor

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

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DEVOTIONAL:
As the sun is peeking over the hills, Mary and Mary Magdalene are making their way to the tomb. We often make note of the fact that women were the first witnesses to the resurrection, but as I read over the end of Matthew’s gospel, I was reminded of the enduring presence of these women. I had separated the Easter morning discovery from the grieving of Good Friday. But for Mary and Mary Magdalene, Easter morning was just one more day in their vigil of mourning. They had been there through the agony of the cross, they were there when the stone was rolled in front of the tomb and soldiers took their posts, and now they are returning to continue their watch. I imagine that they are arriving weary, exhausted by grief and perhaps even wary of the continuing presence of the soldiers.

In his devotion on March 5, Carl Helrich suggested that joy does not always come easily. For the women, the news of Jesus’ resurrection was not an easy joy. Their joy came from out of the depths. Nowhere in Matthew’s account do the women speak, they do not cry out “we have seen the Lord,” they do not speak of their intermingling grief, shock, joy and fear. But their faithfulness endures as they worship at the feet of our risen Lord, and continue on to spread the good news to the rest of the disciples.

I pray that this Easter season, we may all be blessed by the enduring joy of God’s presence in our lives. A joy that rises out of the depths of our lives together. A joy that mingles with fear and challenges us to look beyond ourselves and follow Jesus into a world of great need. Thank you for joining us on our Lenten journey.

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SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV)
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

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Thank you for joining the students, faculty and staff of Goshen College during Lent for these devotions. We pray they have met a spiritual need for you each day as you have walked through the wilderness, to the cross and “out of the depths” with Jesus. We have been blessed to be part of your journey. Join us again for the season of Advent (unless you unsubscribe, they will automatically be sent to you) when they start again in late November.
Posted at 09:36 #