... they were on their way to the tomb...  “Don't be alarmed, “he (the young man dressed in a white robe) said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here...  But go, tell his disciples...” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb.They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid (Mark 16:2, 6a, 8).

You and I have landed in history after people have known for centuries that Jesus rose from the dead and that everlasting life is possible. So to appreciate this portion of Mark, we need to activate our imaginations.

Try putting yourself in the sandals of these three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They knew how reality worked: We are born. We live. We die.

Granted Jesus had brought some people—like Lazarus—back to life. (They were still puzzled by that.) He had implied that “being raised” would happen to Him. (He couldn't have meant that though, could He? Surely not.)

So on this Resurrection morning their focus was the “We die” of reality. Jesus had died and they were set on ministering to Him one last time.

That simple intention led them to a huge revision of their idea of reality. No longer was it going to be “We are born. We live. We die.” “We die” would not be the last word. “We live again” would take that place.

It would take time, however, for that realization to unfold. It would take a great unsettling, accompanied by fear, to get them there.

The unsettling began at the tomb. Why was the stone rolled away? (Who did this? the soldiers?) Where is Jesus' body? (Could it have been stolen?) Who is this person sitting in the tomb talking to them? How could he expect them to deliver such a message to the disciples? (The disciples would think them crazy.)

Nothing about this felt real. Except their fear. Then, perhaps, they realized their fear was awe at encountering the wonder and majesty of God breaking through in that tomb.

Their fears were likely all a jumble. Having one's old reality clash with a new reality is bound to include tumultuous thoughts and emotions.

Mark leaves us there in that tumult. The women don't see the risen Lord. They have no intention of telling anyone a message. They intend to get away from anything that interferes with the reality they've always known as soon as possible.

Does this story of unresolved tumult remind you of anything? Like maybe our world today?

Instead of running away as they did, a good way to deal with questions and fears during this time is to face them. Try doing this today.

How can the new reality that broke through on Resurrection Day--”We live again”--help you? (Don't only think about this, let God speak it into you.)