April 5th, 2026
by Rachel Mahoney
by Rachel Mahoney
He Is Not Here (Day 8)
They came to the tomb before sunrise.
Not expecting a miracle.
Not looking for hope.
They came with spices…
to care for a body.
Expecting an Ending
In Luke 24:1–12, the women arrive early in the morning.
Everything about their actions says the same thing:
They believed the story was over.
They weren’t anticipating resurrection.
They weren’t waiting for something new.
They were simply doing what love does in the face of loss,
showing up anyway.
But when they get there…
The stone is rolled away.
The tomb is empty.
And two men ask a question that changes everything:
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”
He is not here.
He is risen.
Who God Chose First
There’s something important in this moment.
God didn’t announce the resurrection
to the powerful or the religious leaders.
He told women,
people the culture at the time often dismissed.
That’s not accidental.
It’s a pattern.
God keeps showing up through people
the world tends to overlook.
Which means this has never been about status.
It’s always been about grace.
A Step, Not Certainty
When the women tell the disciples,
they don’t believe them.
Not at first.
But Peter runs to the tomb anyway.
He doesn’t have clarity.
He doesn’t have answers.
He just moves toward it.
And he leaves… stunned.
That matters.
Because the resurrection doesn’t require you
to have everything figured out.
It simply asks:
Will you go and see?
The Story Isn’t Over
You’ve walked through the whole week.
The celebration.
The disruption.
The quiet service.
The wrestling.
The cross.
The silence.
And now, the tomb is empty.
Which means this story didn’t end.
It began.
And somehow… you’re part of what comes next.
A Simple Prayer
Jesus, you’re alive!
I don’t have it all figured out,
and that’s okay.
But I believe the tomb is empty,
and that changes everything.
Including me.
Send me into this week
as someone who’s been to the empty tomb.
Amen.
What Comes Next
Come to church.
Celebrate with your people!
And tell someone, maybe just one person, what this week meant to you.
Not with perfect words.
Not with all the answers.
Just honestly.
Because that’s exactly how this story started.
They came to the tomb before sunrise.
Not expecting a miracle.
Not looking for hope.
They came with spices…
to care for a body.
Expecting an Ending
In Luke 24:1–12, the women arrive early in the morning.
Everything about their actions says the same thing:
They believed the story was over.
They weren’t anticipating resurrection.
They weren’t waiting for something new.
They were simply doing what love does in the face of loss,
showing up anyway.
But when they get there…
The stone is rolled away.
The tomb is empty.
And two men ask a question that changes everything:
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”
He is not here.
He is risen.
Who God Chose First
There’s something important in this moment.
God didn’t announce the resurrection
to the powerful or the religious leaders.
He told women,
people the culture at the time often dismissed.
That’s not accidental.
It’s a pattern.
God keeps showing up through people
the world tends to overlook.
Which means this has never been about status.
It’s always been about grace.
A Step, Not Certainty
When the women tell the disciples,
they don’t believe them.
Not at first.
But Peter runs to the tomb anyway.
He doesn’t have clarity.
He doesn’t have answers.
He just moves toward it.
And he leaves… stunned.
That matters.
Because the resurrection doesn’t require you
to have everything figured out.
It simply asks:
Will you go and see?
The Story Isn’t Over
You’ve walked through the whole week.
The celebration.
The disruption.
The quiet service.
The wrestling.
The cross.
The silence.
And now, the tomb is empty.
Which means this story didn’t end.
It began.
And somehow… you’re part of what comes next.
A Simple Prayer
Jesus, you’re alive!
I don’t have it all figured out,
and that’s okay.
But I believe the tomb is empty,
and that changes everything.
Including me.
Send me into this week
as someone who’s been to the empty tomb.
Amen.
What Comes Next
Come to church.
Celebrate with your people!
And tell someone, maybe just one person, what this week meant to you.
Not with perfect words.
Not with all the answers.
Just honestly.
Because that’s exactly how this story started.
Rachel Mahoney
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1 Comment
I have really enjoyed the devotional everyday
nVery informative. Great Job Thank You