The New Age

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (Matthew 28:1 NIV)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb (Mark 16:1, 2 NIV)

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. (Luke 24:1 NIV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1 NIV)

The passages above come from each of the four gospels following each of their crucifixion accounts. A whole day has passed. Each gospel starts out by saying something about "very early on the first day of the week." At the Wild Women's Weekend, it was explained that this was significant because it tells us that a New Age has begun at this point.

Isn't it exciting to view it that way? Everything before that point was building up to that morning... a morning that brought a fresh start to everyone, everywhere, for all time. It wasn't just a new birth for Jesus or just a new birth for us... it was a new birth of time and eternity.

What happened at the empty tomb had repurcussions that went beyond the women's and disciples' confusion. It went beyond the fear that had to have come upon the sleeping guards. It went far beyond the joy of those who finally figured out that Jesus had risen. It meant more than just a new chapter to the story... it meant a whole new book!... a completely new story! A new age with new realities.

I don't think that even now, some two thousand years later, that we get the whole meaning of this. On that morning, heaven and earth collided and heaven seeps into our reality everywhere, every day. We just need to learn how to see it. It's in those unexplainable events that have touched our lives. It's in the grace that pours out on us just when we need it the most. It's in the devotional email that says just what we needed to hear at that moment, or a song that plays that brings comfort and peace right when we needed it. It's in the times when we see someone walk out of a hospital room when we thought there was no hope. It's in that unexplainable joy we feel deep down, even when we are grieving.

On Good Friday and even that Saturday, these things were kept separate from earth. But when that stone was rolled away, heaven was let loose among us. Look for it! You will see it!

Father,
Help us to see the cracks where heaven seeps through into our daily lives. Let us take full advantage of living in this new and wondrous age. Amen.

Joys: hiking day!; beautiful, gorgeous, unbelievable weather; rest from a busy week