Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. (Matt. 27:61)
Nippy Jones played baseball—not that you would have heard of him. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals when they won the World Series in 1946 and for the Milwaukee Braves when they won the World Series in 1957.
During the 1957 series, Nippy was at bat when a wild pitch struck him on the foot. Usually that means the batter gets to take first base, but the umpire refused to allow it. He said the ball never hit him.
Nippy asked to see the baseball and after examining it, he showed it to the umpire, pointing to a black spot on the ball. Nippy claimed it was shoe polish. The umpire said that was enough proof and sent him to first. Nippy scored and the Braves went on to win the game and ultimately the world championship.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had proof that Jesus rose from the dead. We remember they were at the empty tomb after Jesus rose again. What our verse today shows us is that they were also there when Joseph of Arimathea placed the body of Jesus in the tomb. Both scenes were imprinted on their minds as vividly as shoe polish on a baseball.
What do you know for sure? Has the risen Christ made a difference in your life? Do you have the shoe polish smudge to prove it?
List the ways you have changed since Jesus came into your heart.
Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife Carol. He has written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than thirty years.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
