Walking Toward The Miracle
May 7, 2019 1104
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside (Mark 16:1-4 NLT).
What if the women had turned back after remembering that between them and the body of Christ lay a massive stone that they could not move? What if they had taken their fears seriously and found a logical excuse to return home and just cry?
The women were going to the tomb when everybody, include the disciples, were afraid to be associated with Jesus Christ. So what kept the women walking to the controversial and secured territory of the grave? How important was this anointing that the women were about to perform that they couldn’t simply give up? Imagine how different the story would have been had these women given up their humble, yet noble, walk.
When I was a little kid, and Dad would delay in sending money for food and we had nothing to eat, my dear mother would call us into the house and we would pray. Then she would tell us to sweep the compound, clean the utensils, and wait for the Lord.
As far as I remember, we never slept hungry because something out of the ordinary always happened, such as a distant relative visiting (in Africa visitors don’t come empty handed), or Dad surprising us. Our stomachs were always full and our faith in God was kept intact, thanks to mother.
The impossible becomes possible the moment it is surrendered to God through simple faith
She taught us that even when change seems unlikely, to keep walking. And the stones were rolled away the moment we arrived. There is no point in giving up. The impossible becomes possible the moment it is surrendered to God through simple faith.
We are encouraged to do our part knowing that God will do his. Our part is to have faith that God will do his part, even when we may not be sure what his part is. We many not be in a position to understand everything that happens by his will, but we are in a position to believe and trust that God’s plans are better than ours and his foolishness is wiser than our wisdom.
The death of the Son of God was no doubt the most “foolish” thing God ever allowed to happen. He was jeered at, spat on, ridiculed and thought to be crazy. But that “foolish” death brought the universe the joy of salvation.
The women in Mark 16 did something that continues to challenge us. What do we do when all seems lost? Keep walking in faith and wait for the miracle.
– Pr Bonifresh Muhollo
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