Sometimes it’s the smallest Easter eggs that bring the best lessons.

I was reading through the Easter account of Luke and stopped on a verse I probably would have normally overlooked.

The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. (Luke 23:55-56)

If any verse were to win the “Most Likely to be Overlooked” Award for the Passion accounts, this might be it. Instead, it’s once again proven that no verse from God’s hand is an afterthought.

The women watching their Savior being laid to rest in death…rested on the Sabbath.

Am I the only one blown away by this little detail?

These women have just experienced the greatest disappointment of their lives. As far as they could see (before Jesus opened their eyes), their faith was left in tatters. Jesus, the Savior they’d come to believe in, was gone. No redeeming Israel, no salvation of the people…just a victorious Roman oppression and stifling religious leadership.

Yet these women rested on the Sabbath.

You have to wonder about their state of mind as they watched Jesus’ burial. Did they expect a resurrection? They were preparing enbalming spices, so likely not. Precious few, if anyone, seemed to understand what was going on that weekend before the risen Jesus opened their eyes. What had come of the prophecies that shared a scroll with those Sabbath commandments? What had come of their hope, their anchor, their very light?

Yet these women rested on the Sabbath.

I don’t know that many people who’d be that obedient to God in the face of such confusion and letdown.

I know a lot of people who would walk away instead. Who would run from fear, like his disciples. Who would conclude God had earned their abandonment. Who have concluded that very thing, looking upon the pain and destruction God allows in the world and telling God, “I don’t like your terms. I’m not following you anymore.” People I know.

Yet these women rested on the Sabbath.

Sure, it was habit for them after a life of faithfulness. But it was a habit tied to promise, a promise that now seemed dashed. Cutting that string should have dropped their faith right through the earth. If the prophecies weren’t reliable, why bother with anything else?

Yet these women rested on the Sabbath.

I am inspired – and exposed. This seemingly small detail challenges me. Am I willing to obey God in the details great and small despite the disappointments life has brought me? Am I willing to follow him when he doesn’t appear to be following my life that closely? If he slayed me, would I trust him, as Job did?

These women came back days later to enbalm their Lord. Instead, he buried their doubt.

May ours meet the same fate, proven through obedience.

I’m glad you tuned in today. If you found this post to be of value, please feel free to share it on social media. Thanks a bunch!