As late as Early Sunday morning just after the crucifixion the disciples of Jesus still thought he was dead and that their hopes and dreams had died with Him. They had seen Him die, taken down from the cross, and placed into a grave. After all, that’s where you put the dead, isn’t it?

Early on Sunday morning Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome made their way to the grave, hoping that they might be allowed into the grave to anoint the body of Jesus with spices, spices for burial. The anointing hadn’t taken place on Friday because at the time of Jesus’ death the Sun was setting into the Sabbath, and no work was to be done on the Sabbath. So, they waited.

On Sunday morning we know at least one thing. These ladies had no idea they were going to a resurrection. They were going to complete the responsibility to the dead. Proper anointing needed to be done, the body needed to receive the greatest of preparation and expressions of dignity toward the deceased. They were just doing what didn’t get done on Friday.

Then, Jesus showed up and ruined everything. They didn’t get to have their funeral after all. The body was gone. The spices weren’t needed, no mourning was necessary, and they were stunned. In fact, “They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8).

When Mary Magdalene had gained her composer, she went to the disciples not to tell them Jesus was alive but that somebody had taken the body away (John 20:2). Over the next couple of hours Jesus physically appeared to those who loved Him and confirmed that His body wasn’t missing but that He was, in fact, alive.

We serve a Risen Savior.