They were there when it was all over. After the joke of “due process” He had undergone in order that He might be condemned . . . after the beating . . . after the mockery . . . after the hours on the cross . . . after He had cried out with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. They had looked on from a distance . . . eyes fixed on the horrors afflicted upon their Master . . . not leaving His side, as it were, until the religious leaders and the Roman government and death had apparently won. They were those who had “followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him” (Matt. 27:55).

And even after others had gone home, they were there when He was laid to rest. They saw His lifeless body taken down from the cross and given to Joseph of Arimathea, another disciple of Christ. I don’t know if they were present when Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud. But they saw Joseph take the body and lay it in his own new tomb . . . they saw him emerge alone from the cave . . . they saw him roll the great stone in place covering the entrance to the tomb . . . they saw him walk away. But they lingered there . . . staring at the lifeless rock . . . likely in disbelief and confusion . . . they were there “sitting opposite the tomb” (Matt. 27:61).

And they were there after the Sabbath, before dawn of the first day of the week . . . back at the tomb. They approached the place where they had seen Him laid, armed with spices that they might somehow anoint His body . . . and as they got nearer they saw that the rock had been rolled away, that the way into the tomb was open. “But when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:3). As they stood there . . . again in confusion and fear . . . an angel appears to them . . . and speaks to them . . .

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that He has risen from the dead . . . “  
(Matthew 28:5-7a ESV)

I know that you seek Jesus . . .

The words resonate from the pages of Holy Scripture . . . the Spirit testifies with my spirit . . . oh, the grace of God that compels those who were once in darkness . . . those who once were oblivious to the things of another kingdom . . . those who, in a past day, could have cared less where He was . . . to seek Jesus.

Out of a love for their Deliverer, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there. By faith they were determined to honor Him even in His death, though they had no idea how they were going to get into the tomb that morning as they left their houses armed with their sweet smelling aroma of worship. But since the day He had touched their lives, they had determined to seek Jesus.

The angel appearing to them that morning knew it . . . the risen Christ, the One who had died for their sins, knew it . . . God, enthroned in heaven, knew it . . . they were there seeking Jesus.

Oh, by His abiding grace might I too never cease to seek Jesus. In the midst of sorrow and confusion may I look through tear filled eyes to behold His face. During periods of triumph and prosperity might I not be distracted by the riches nor lulled into complacency by the victory and cease to desire Him above everything else.

For those who seek will find. Amen?