“That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

Jesus was crucified on the greatest of all the Jewish holidays—Passover. Everyone in Jerusalem was in eager anticipation of the feast that would begin that evening. Families and neighbors would gather for a huge, special meal and a night of teachings, followed by a day of peace and rest. These women should have been bustling around their house preparing food and setting out their best tableware and making nice decorations. But they dropped all their plans and ran to stand in solidarity by their Lord’s cross. They accompanied His body to the tomb and watched them seal the grave. Only then did they return home, not to finish their holiday preparations, but instead to grind spices and fragrant oils mingled with their tears, while all the country was celebrating with joy around them. And the Sabbath was not a peaceful day of rest, but the longest day of waiting for them to be able to go and anoint their Lord’s body with the spices they had prepared. They couldn’t envision the true joy that awaited them in the next two mornings.

Why am I telling you this? Because many people are gearing up for celebrating Passover and Resurrection Day with family, friends and neighbors. There will be Seder meals, sunrise services, pageants and cantatas, and fun activities for children. But there are also those who are hurting or mourning loss right now, who hear the sounds of celebrating all around them but can’t seem to envision the joy that awaits them. Take notice of those you meet whose holiday is mingled with tears. Share a loving arm (or shoulder to cry on) and help them see that we don’t have to mourn long because Jesus has already won the victory over all our troubles if we will yield them all to Him.

“Sorrow may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

May you be filled with the joy and peace of the Lord as you celebrate His resurrection power this season and all year long!

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Surprisingly, this wearing of masks is not a new thing. Even when we were free to walk about with open faces, people have hidden behind masks of artificial smiles and cheery hellos when inside their heart was really breaking and their spirit was crying out for help. But one day, Isaiah declared, all that will change.

“And in this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees…And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of covering cast over all people, and the veil (masks) that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the LORD God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:7-8)

God can see beneath the fabric mask covering your face to know if you are smiling or frowning. And He can peel back the flesh mask over your heart to see the tears and hurts and disappointment and guilt and shame you have hiding there. He hears your cries in your bed in the deepest night when you think no one else understands what you’re feeling. He understands the wounds that have been inflicted on your soul by the words of thoughtless people. And He CARES! He feels your pain. He revels with you when you feel joy. He longs with deep longing to hold you in His arms and envelope you in His love and make everything all right.

One day He will remove all of our masks and wipe away all our tears and fill us with the choicest blessings and richest favors that He can lavish on us. But you don’t have to wait until then. Open your heart to Him now. Let Him come in and pour in His healing oil and wine. He is waiting with open arms to take all your cares and hurts on Himself and care for you.

I pray that you will feel God’s sweet presence soothing your heart and wiping away your tears today. Be encouraged in the Lord! “He is near to the brokenhearted.”

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