READING: Genesis 38-40, Mark 15
Everything pointed toward the end of Jesus’ ministry. The religious leaders had accused him. They had riled up the crowds, who cried out for Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate had ordered that Jesus be scourged. Now, Jesus had been crucified. He had died an agonizing death while the people taunted and ridiculed Him.
Twice in Mark 15, then, we read about women who were watching all the events. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Salome, and others who loved Jesus watched this tragedy from a distance. The women then “saw where He was laid” (Mark 15:47) when Joseph of Arimathea took care of His broken body. They saw Him die, and they saw Him buried. Nothing less than eyes of faith—eyes that would allow them to see beyond what they saw—could give them any lasting hope.
Of course, we know that faith would come for them only after they saw that the resurrected Lord was no longer in the tomb. They needed to see in order to believe. We, on the other hand, must believe without seeing . . . and, at times, believe despite what we see. Even if everything we see is difficulty, struggle, death, and tragedy, we still must believe that the sovereign Lord is in charge. He who conquered death really can overcome anything we face.
PRAYER: “Lord, grant me eyes of faith even when I see only struggle.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Weekend is for catch-up and review