Early in the Morning to the Sepulcher - Mark 16:2

After the death and burial of Jesus Mark wrote, “when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint” Jesus' body, and in chapter sixteen and verse two of his book, Mark shared how the women “came into the sepulcher”, “very early in the morning the first day of the week” where we read:

And very early in the morning the first day of the week,

they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.

The verse reads, “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, ...” Mark began with the words, “and very early in the morning” which means “and well in advance of the fourth watch of the night which was between three o'clock and six o'clock in the morning” “the first day of the week” or “on the beginning sunrise to sunset of the interval between two sabbaths”. Mark began to share what happened in the “very early” hour of the “first” day of the next week after Jesus' death.

The verse goes on to say, “... they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.” Mark continued with the words, “they came unto the sepulcher” which means “the women, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome arose, appeared and came forth to the grave or tomb where Jesus was laid” “at the rising” which means “at the arising or ascension” “of the sun” which refers to “the sun in the sky”. Mark shared how the women came to the “grave” of Jesus when the “sun” rose.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we note the time when these women came to the grave of Jesus. “Very early”, as the “sun was rising”, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and Joses along with “Salome” approached the “sepulcher” where Joseph of Arimathaea lay Jesus' body. These women desired to honor their Lord, and with their “sweet spices” in hand, they set out to “anoint” Jesus' body when they reached His “tomb”. Little did these women know, they were part of God's plan for the announcement of Jesus' resurrection which would lead to the salvation of mankind. The women shall discover that Jesus was not in the “tomb”. He was risen, and access to God through Him was made. Now all who believe and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” and turn from their sinful ways will receive forgiveness for their sins and “everlasting life” with God. Let all who read these words carefully consider these women, their sacrifice and the part they played in God's plan for people to live forever with God.

Next time Mark shares how the women said to themselves, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".