“And they remembered His words.” Luke 24:8 NKJV
Let’s set the scene of this post-resurrection passage. Jesus had been crucified and His body placed in a tomb. Because He had been buried just before the start of the Sabbath, there was not time for the customary anointing of the body. However, as soon as Sabbath was over, a group of women headed to the tomb very early in the morning (fellow early birds!) to take the spices they had prepared to anoint the dead body of Jesus. When they got there, they discovered the stone, that had sealed the tomb, was rolled away and the body of Jesus was no where to be found. Instead, these women were met by two men (angels) who greeted them with a question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” They then proceeded to tell the women Jesus had risen from the dead just as He said He would. “And they remembered His words.”
The women went and told the disciples and the other followers all they had encountered at the tomb. Then those disciples and followers jumped and leaped with joy, right? NOPE! Verse 11 says, “And their words seemed to them like idle tales and they did not believe them.” Kudos to Peter, who got up and ran to the tomb in order to see for himself. He left the tomb marveling to himself at what had happened. Marveling and believing are two different things.
Being a good southern girl, I say, “Bless their hearts!” But am I any different? How many things has God spoken to me and I didn’t believe? Oh, I may say I do. I’ll even encourage others with His many words and promises straight out of the Bible. I’ll talk about how we cannot be separated from His love…about His peace that passes understanding…how He never leaves or forsakes us…how He forgives our sin…how He gives strength to the weak and comfort to the hurting. I even pray these things for myself and others but, in reality, I am just like the women and the others in this passage. Even after hearing and knowing truth, I am, in essence, heading to a tomb to expecting to find the exact opposite of what God has said!!! I am living as if the words of the Lord are nothing more than “idle tales.”
Oh, Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!!! (Mark 9:24) May I not only remember Your words, but head to the “tombs” of my life with expectation and confidence of their fulfillment!
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