Insurmountable Problems

Grace for All

Hope, No Matter What

(our theme for September)

Mark 16: 1-5

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

This is a story that we hear during Easter. It is indeed The Greatest Story Ever Told because of what the women found at the tomb early that morning.

But in focusing on that part of the story, I think we might miss another story. It is more mundane, but it is one that we are likely to experience in our daily lives. In this version in Mark’s gospel, a set of women – three who are named and others who are not – decide to do a good and proper deed. They mean to anoint the lifeless body of Christ with spices.

But they have a problem. Who will roll away the stone that is blocking the entrance to the tomb? The women don’t have the strength to do it. And there – right there! – the story could have ended.

How often do we think about something good we want to do, but then it occurs to us that it’s impossible. And so we stop.

For some reason, these women didn't stop. It appeared that what they were setting out to do was impossible. But they went anyway. And as it turned out, the thing they thought would be the biggest problem had already been solved by the time they got to the tomb.

In fact, what they set out to do wasn’t even necessary. Instead, they received the news that changed everything.

God has more in store for us that we can ever imagine. That’s what those women found out that day. If we just start down a path that God has laid out before us, there is no telling where we might end up.

Our prayer today:

Dear Lord, help us to focus not on the problems in our lives but on the paths of righteousness where you give us opportunity to travel. Help us to trust in your strength and your grace. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.