DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller

December 18. The First at the Sepulcher

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him." John 20:1-2

Nothing shines more brightly in the story of our Lord's cross and tomb — than the loving fidelity of His women friends. They were last at His cross — and first at His tomb when the Sabbath was past. They came very early in the morning, while it was still dark and the day was but dawning. They must have been awake much of the night preparing their spices and ointments. Hope had died in their hearts, when they saw Jesus dead and laid away in the tomb — but love had not died! They had not forgotten the blessings they had received from His hand; and though they had been disappointed in their Messianic expectations — they were eager to do all that could be done to honor His memory.

There are lessons in this picture which are so obvious that they need scarcely be written out. One is, that no matter how dark the hour — our love for Christ should never fail. Though our expectations fail of realization, though our blossoms of hope fade and fall and yield no fruit — still let us cling to Christ. Our disappointments often prove the richest blessings in the end. It was so with these faithful women. Their Messianic hopes were buried and never arose — but the true Messianic hopes came in full glory from the grave's gloom! So it is always with faith's hopes that seem to perish — they come again in immortal beauty.

Another lesson is, that in the expression of our love for Christ, we should bring to Him the very richest and best that our hearts can find or our hands can prepare. 

Still another lesson is, that we ought always to come early in our service of love for Christ. We ought to come to Him in life's morning, while youth's purity and freshness are unsullied. 

We ought also to seek Him in the morning of each day — so that not one golden moment may be lost!