Key Passage
The women walked into the tomb. They saw a young man there wearing a white robe. The man was sitting on the right side of the tomb. The women were afraid. But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one that was killed on a cross. He has risen from death! He is not here. Look, here is the place they put him when he was dead."
— Mark 16:5-6 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
These women were more than "touched by an angel"; they were startled by an angel (Matt. 28:5). They knew where Jesus had been buried. They were wondering about why the stone was rolled away from the tomb. They were startled to see an angel where Jesus had been buried. No matter what they imagined would happen at the tomb, they had no expectation that they would be greeted by an angel telling them that Jesus was raised from the dead. What an overwhelming and "gloriously frightening" experience. One day, we too will be startled by angels as they return with the Lord to take us home to his glory. Let's live each day in expectation of that day and look forward to being "startled by an angel."
Prayer
O Father, I look forward to the day your Son returns in glory with the holy angels of heaven. Help me live with expectation, joy, anticipation, and wonder as I await that day. Use my life to help prepare others for your Son's return and to be a blessing to them until that day dawns. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Then Jesus called the people to him. His followers were also there. Then Jesus said, "If any person wants to follow me, he must say 'No' to the things he wants. That person must accept the cross (suffering) that is given to him, and he must follow me. The person that wants to save his life will lose it. And every person that gives his life for me and for the Good News will save his life forever. It is worth nothing for a person to have the whole world, if he loses his soul {in hell}. A person could never pay enough to buy back his soul. The people that live now are living in a sinful and evil time. If any person is ashamed of me and my teaching, then I will be ashamed of that person. I will be ashamed of that person at the time I come with the glory of my Father and the holy angels."
— Mark 8:34-38
The Son of Man will come again with his Father's glory and with his angels. At that time, the Son of Man will reward each person for the things he has done.
— Matthew 16:27
"The Son of Man will come again. He will come with great glory. All his angels will come with him. He will be king and sit on his great throne. All the people of the world will be gathered before the Son of Man. Then the Son of Man will separate all people into two groups. This is like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
— Matthew 25:31-32
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