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Sunday August 17 - Rolling stones
...they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who
will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Mark 16:2-3
This week, we draw our reflections from the final chapter of Mark’s gospel. It is the shortest of the gospels, with the briefest account of the resurrection. Its ending passes the baton – ultimately to you and me!
Have you ever started something, got so far and then thought, “Wait a minute, we can’t do it, this is impossible”? Heartbroken, the two Marys and Salome waited until Sabbath was over. At sunrise they took the spices they had bought, and set off to anoint Jesus’ dead body. On the way, it dawned on them, “Who will roll the stone away?” In Israel today you can still find gullies cut across entrances of tombs, along which huge discs of hewn stone were rolled.
The Bible presents many impossible situations: who will part the Red Sea?, who will break down the walls of Jericho?, who will stand alongside a quivering Gideon to defeat the Midianites?, who will deliver Daniel’s friends from the fiery furnace?, who will restore Lazarus to his sisters?... In each case, it was God who did it! For him, no mountain is too high, no river too deep, no stone too heavy... nothing is too difficult (Jeremiah 32:17).
Friends, whatever blocks your path from fulfilling God’s will for your life, do not despair. Right now, let’s take it to the Lord in prayer.
Father, I am sorry for ‘the peace I often forfeit and the needless pain I bear, all because I do not carry everything to you in prayer!’ Amen.
Monday August 18 - ...and Peter
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:7
“Go and tell the disciples and Peter.” These are two of the most precious words recorded in Scripture: “...and Peter!” Let’s consider the context; two days earlier Jesus had been cruelly crucified, and his followers were filled with grief and fear, their hopes now dashed. How could they manage? None more so than Peter, to whom Jesus had said, “Peter, on this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). In Peter’s mind the ‘rock’ had been smashed at the sound of the cock crowing and the nails being driven into Jesus’ hands. What was the church to be built upon – Peter’s denial and a dead Lord?
Mary Magdalene, once possessed by seven demons, was now to become the bearer of grace to Peter; unable to put things right, he stood broken. On that glorious resurrection morning, Jesus rose triumphantly with one thing on his mind: his disciples must be told that he had risen – and especially Peter. Consequently, an angel instructed Mary to share the good news that the resurrected Christ was going ahead once more. This is grace upon grace; a woman wonderfully restored, in turn being used to restore the great apostle.
I witnessed something similar in prison 15 years ago as I watched a man convicted of murder lead another prisoner to Christ; with tears in my eyes I beheld God’s great grace at work. Such grace is yours today!
Father, I stand amazed in your presence. I worship you, the One who is love, filled with grace and truth. Amen .
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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