Who will roll the stone away week 15, 2012

They were not coming in faith to meet a risen saviour. These three women, driven by love for the master who died, were determined to honour him. They had prepared but had been unable to anoint his body on account of the Sabbath law. Had Jesus’ body not been spiced? It had: Nicodemus … came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices Jn 19:39, 40(ESV). Perhaps they were not satisfied with the one done by Nicodemus, certainly they wanted it done by themselves. It is unlikely they were unaware of the spicing for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb Mat 27:61(ESV) when Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away Mat 27:59, 60(ESV). That’s how Mary anointed Jesus before. Martha was doing the serving, Lazarus playing good host, but Mary would not let her love go unexpressed (Jn12:1-3). What of you?
Think of it: the discovery of Jesus’ resurrection was made through women who purposed to honour the dead, not knowing if they would succeed, and having unanswered questions. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"Mk 16:3 (ESV). Think of it; when last were you stopped from doing something good because you did not know who would roll the stone away? What good thing have you prepared to do but held back by law must postpone it for another time; an inconvenient time with uncertainty about access and therefore success? the women …followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment Lk 23:55, 56(ESV). Do it. Delay no more, do it.
I say: insist on expressing love for Jesus. Insist on doing the good you know. Be held back no more by uncertainty. That’s how the 4 lepers found the camp of the Assyrians empty and a famine ended (2Kg7:1-10). The word of God was fulfilled. What dream propelled the women, what vision or prophecy but the inner drive to express love; yet what weighty discovery came from that insistence. They did not succeed in their mission of anointing Jesus. Was their preparation in vain? Nay; it was ordained of God for witnesses to the greatest event in history: Jesus Christ the Son of God has risen from the dead! What are you waiting for? Go and prepare your spices. God can yet use fickle ones who determine in love to honour Jesus.