ARTICLES

Preparing Sweet Spices

by Mari Anne Andersen

Happy Easter to you dear family and friends!

May the power of His resurrection and glory fill

you during this holy and triumphant time!

From the account of Luke 24 we read that first day of the week at early dawn (the women) went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had made ready.

As I read this very first sentence, what struck me deeply was the women's devotion, affection, and dedication in doing what was right even in the midst of grieving, pain and loss. Their world had just been ripped from under them, believing that Jesus was the true Messiah, that He was going to save them and lead them into their hope and destiny as a people. Mary and the other women came early seeking Him with diligence, obedience, and attentiveness to embalm the body and to anoint Him with sweet spices. These women still continued in respect, love, and zeal even after the crucifixion and the death of their Lord. The sweet spices they prepared the evening before took great time and expense emotionally, financially and spiritually. For these women much had been forgiven and therefore, they loved much. How many of us when our hope is devastated or removed in the natural, do we still continue to do what is right and honorable? How many of us still seek Him when we have experienced deep pain and loss? How many of us prepare sweet spices to take to our Lord when our hope in the natural seems dead?

I truly believe that as we prepare sweet spices in our pain, hurt, perplexities of life, and relationships, and continue to seek Him, we WILL find Him - we WILL encounter Him and experience the resurrection glory in our lives. As we come to anoint Jesus and honor Him with our love and devotion, we will be able to take off the terror of death and the grave clothes. Surprising comforts are the frequent encouragement of the seekers and those who have prepared sweet spices for our Lord. 

••• John 20:1 - Mary Magdalene had a glorious discovery and encounter even though at first she didn't comprehend it. It's interesting to note here that Mary, along with the other women, was most constant in her adherence to the Lord. Those with the most allegiance or steady devotion have commonly the first and sweetest notices of divine encounters, as did Mary. She followed her Lord to the last of His humiliation and also met Him first in His exaltation. 

••• John 20:11 - "But Mary remained standing outside the tomb sobbing. As she wept, she stooped down (and looked) into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain."

Again, this touches the core of my heart because she remained outside His tomb sobbing. Her tears speak loudly of her affection for her Master along with her remembrance of his suffering, death, and loss, and her feeling of the emptiness of returning home and "back to life" without her Lord. When we lose something of worth, we usually keep searching in the same place where we left it and we expect to find it. She didn't want to give up but remained standing in that place, and in that place she encountered the two angels and then the resurrected Savior. As soon as Jesus called out her name, Mary recognized His voice, that it was Jesus her Master, Teacher, and Rabboni. There is a sweetness of knowing our Shepherd's voice and an intimacy of Jesus knowing our names personally and speaking them out clearly. Assuredly she had a personal relationship with Jesus and, in that moment, the eyes of her understanding beheld her dear Savior; with joy and excitement she wanted to touch Jesus. As Jesus spoke and said to her, "Touch me not for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to My brethren and tell them I am ascending to My Father and YOUR Father, and to My God and YOUR God." Mary was given one of the highest honors and privileges, to bring good news to the others that Jesus was now entering into His glory, being declared the Son of God. Such rewards to those who diligently seek Him and inquire after Him! She was given one of the greatest joys in all of history, to proclaim, declare, and decree that, "Jesus is alive, He is risen, He has spoken to me, He has appeared to me," and in that moment, she became an apostle to the apostles.

Hot off the press! First hand news she announced to the disciples, that death could not hold Him down, He had conquered the grave, the tomb was empty, the Roman seal was broken, and the stone rolled away. Mary was the first witness to the world of the resurrection power and glory. She carried the message that God raised His Son on the third day, that God raised His Son to attest to His deity. God raised His son to be the saving life of all who believe; God raised His son to be Prince and Savior, to be the Head of the Church, to be the great High Priest, and to be our Advocate and Intercessor. This was the news she was bringing back to the others, and it all started because she was bringing "sweet smelling spices" and doing the right thing. Mary was an example of not going into hiding, not running because of fear, not forsaking all that was true, but seeking Him in the midst of pain and suffering. He so often comes to far exceed our thinking and expectation as we continue to remain steadfast in doing the right thing.

His heart for each one of us this Easter is to encounter our own personal resurrection, to hear our Savior calling our name,  and to experience truth in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.