December 18

The First at the Sepulchre

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. — Mark 16:1-2 BSB

The unwavering loyalty of Jesus’ women followers shines brightly in the story of His crucifixion and burial. They were the last at His cross and the first at His tomb after the Sabbath. Early in the morning, before dawn, they came to anoint His body, having prepared their spices the night before. Though their hopes had died when they saw Jesus laid in the tomb, their love had not. They hadn’t forgotten the blessings He had brought them, and despite their disappointment in their earthly expectations of the Messiah, they wanted to honor His memory.

There are clear lessons in this scene. One is that no matter how dark the hour, our love for Christ should never fail. Even when our hopes seem to be destroyed, we should cling to Him. Disappointments often lead to unexpected blessings, just as these women discovered. Their hopes for an earthly Messiah were gone, but the true Messianic hope rose from the grave in full glory. This is how faith’s hopes always work: they may seem to die, but they return in eternal beauty.

Another lesson is that our love for Christ should be expressed through the best we can offer. We should also come to Christ early—in the morning of our lives, before the freshness of youth fades. We should seek Him at the start of each day, making sure not a moment is wasted in our service to Him.