Arrested By Amazement
“And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.” Mark 16:4-5 (KJV)
Has there ever been an event in your life for which you had no answer? You know, the kind of event that causes your heart to pound so loudly and so quickly that your mind is forced to keep the same pace but then they suddenly both come to an abrupt stop? No, during these events you are not dead but delayed by a disconnect of discernment. Before you can connect back to clarity, your mind and heart have been supplanted by questions that you know cannot be answered. Questions such as “What just happened? What is going on? Is this really happening? Can you believe what I am seeing?” overwhelm your mind. They demand to be answered!
Did you notice that all four of those questions were worded differently but sought the same answer? Likewise, in the word of God, all four Gospel accounts report different details about the events of the Resurrection, but their narrative is congruent about Christ’s resurrection. Each of the Gospels records the reactions of the first witnesses of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection. These accounts are documented in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20. Each chapter opens with the arrival of the women (including Mary Magdalene) at the tomb. In each instance, the women find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Consider how the events of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection caught hold of the women and wrapped them in wonder.
“And he saith unto them, be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” Mark 16:6-7 (KJV)
These devoted sunrise servants of the Lord Jesus purposed to get up early. However, it is plausible that they did not get a good night sleep due to the events they experienced on Good Friday. What happened to the Lord Jesus on Good Friday gripped them in gigantic grief. Their sabbath was situated is serious sadness.
It is important to note that the most Admirable, Beloved, Compassionate, Delightful, Engaging, Faultless, Gracious, Holy, Innocent, Justified, Knowledgeable, Loving, Merciful, Noble, Obedient, Peaceful, Quintessential, Remarkable, Special, Trustworthy, Understanding, Venerated, Wonderful, X-raying (He sees right through you), Yielding, (always submitted to the Father’s will) and Zealous man (for the church and the Father’ will) was crucified on a cross and His body was buried in a tomb. I submit to you that the devotion of the women overwhelmed their deep despair and directed them to the tomb early Sunday morning.
Arrested: to catch and hold; attract and fix
Astonishment: overpowering wonder or surprise; amazement
If we look deeply in the text (Mark 16:1-8) you will see several things that contributed to the women being arrested by amazement. They were arrested in astonishment due to the awesome display of God’s presence and power in raising our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead: The stone removed (verse 4), the angel dressed in a long white robe (verse 5) and an empty tomb (verse 6). It was our Lord’s resurrection that burst open the doors for our resurrection. Remember, we too were dead in our trespasses and sins.
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” Colossians 2:13 (KJV)
God is always amazing, just like His grace!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR