Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning , they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
In first-century Jewish culture, it was customary to anoint a deceased person's body with aromatic spices and oils as a final act of care and honor for the dead. Jesus had been crucified on a Friday and buried quickly before the Jewish Sabbath began at sundown, since Jewish law prohibited this kind of work during the Sabbath. So very early on Sunday morning — 'the first day of the week' — a group of women who had followed Jesus came to the tomb to complete the burial ritual. These women, identified in other Gospel accounts as Mary Magdalene and others, had watched Jesus die on the cross. They had no expectation of resurrection. They brought spices because they fully believed Jesus was still in that tomb. Most of Jesus's male disciples, by contrast, had scattered in fear.
Lord, some mornings I come to you with no expectation of anything extraordinary — just the ordinary faithfulness of showing up. Meet me there. Like the women at the tomb, let me find that what I assumed was finished is not. Give me the courage to keep walking toward the stone, even when I cannot imagine it being moved. Amen.
They brought spices to a tomb. Not prayers for a miracle — spices. The kind you bring when hope has an expiration date. There is a particular kind of love in showing up to do the last thing you can do for someone. These women did not come with faith that the story would turn. They came because love shows up even after the story seems finished — because something in them could not simply stay home. The early morning detail matters: they went before sunrise, in the dark, carrying something heavy in their hands and something heavier in their chests. That image — ordinary women with burial spices, walking toward a sealed stone in the gray before dawn — is one of the most quietly human moments in the entire Bible. And then. But this verse doesn't get there yet. It just lets you walk with them in the dark, spices in hand, toward what they are certain is final. Maybe that is where you are right now — still carrying what you prepared for a loss, still putting one foot in front of the other toward something you're afraid is over. The first day of the week comes whether or not we believe it will. Sometimes you only discover resurrection has already happened when you show up anyway.
Why do you think Luke includes the specific detail about the spices? What does this small, practical act reveal about these women's state of mind — and the nature of their love for Jesus?
Have you ever shown up to do something faithful when you had no real expectation that it would matter? What happened — or what did the act cost you?
The women came expecting a body, not a resurrection. What does it say about how God works that the most important moment in history was not announced in advance even to those closest to Jesus?
Most of the male disciples were absent that morning out of fear, while the women showed up. How does this detail challenge or complicate the way you think about courage and faithfulness in your own community?
Where in your life are you still carrying spices to a situation you have largely given up on — and what would it look like to show up there one more time?
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:1
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luke 8:2
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.
John 20:1
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Luke 23:56
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Acts 1:3
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Matthew 28:1
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Matthew 28:8
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 20:2
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body].
AMP
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
ESV
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
NASB
The Resurrection On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
NIV
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
NKJV
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
NLT
At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared.
MSG