Key Passage
The next day after the Sabbath day, Mary from Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought some sweet-smelling spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body.
— Mark 16:1 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Death brings with it harsh realities. The physical absence of the person who died and the decay of the physical body are two of the harshest. The women are doing what was expected and what was necessary when a loved one in Jesus' day died. They show their honor and respect by preparing the dead body properly. When people we love die, there are necessities that have to be handled. As difficult as these are, they help reinforce that this person is gone from us. Our emotions settle in on the absence of that person and all that it means. The toughest reality about grief is that the only way past it is to go through it. Though not ready to give up Jesus to death, these women do what is necessary—both for the dead body and for their aching spirits—by taking care of the body properly.
Prayer
O Father, to lose a loved one is so terribly difficult. Especially true for those who have lost loved ones to death during this time of year, please give your blessings and sustaining grace through this time. Help us to take comfort and find hope that victory and reunion await those who belong to Christ. Give them strength and courage to hold on to that hope—a hope that is ours because your Son came to earth as one of us, died as one of us, and was raised as the first of us to permanently defeat death. For this victory, I thank you. In Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
that God will strengthen you with his own great power; that God will strengthen you, so that you will be patient and not quit when troubles come. Then you will be happy and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have the things he prepared for you. He has prepared these things for all his people who live in the light (good). God made us free from the power of darkness (evil). And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Jesus). The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins.
— Colossians 1:11-14
But Christ has truly been raised from death—the first one of all those {believers} who will be raised from death.
— 1 Corinthians 15:20
We believe that Jesus died. But we believe that Jesus rose again. So, because of Jesus, God will raise to be with Jesus those people who have died.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:14
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