READ: MATTHEW 28:1-10; LUKE 24:1-12; JOHN 20:1-18

Elena didn’t have time to walk all the way around the quarry. She had dinner plans with friends. Ever since Rosa had said the mines would re-open, the town had been chaos. Finally, after weeks of debating whether Rosa had actually found the gold nugget, then a few more weeks of arguing if she had actually heard a voice, the mayor finally decided to re-open the mines after thirty years to do some exploratory mining. So the main trail was closed, and Elena had to walk all the way around. Elena had never known life with the mines open. Her grandfather had worked in the mountain’s mines, and her father had too, right before they closed.

Elena was lost in thought when suddenly the rocks to her left shifted. She had to jump to dodge a few smaller rocks that rolled onto the path. Her heart racing, she looked over and saw a crack had appeared in the mountainside. “Come and see.” Elena heard a voice in her mind. “This is the restoration I promised.” Still a little wary of the rocks above, Elena walked over and peered through the crack. Veins of gold shone on every wall. Elena gasped at the beauty of it.

“Now go and tell the good news,” the voice spoke to her. Elena remembered Rosa mentioning a voice and wondered if it was the same one. She ran to the town and almost ran into her friends at the well. “Gold! I found the gold—this side of the quarry! It’s just like Rosa said would happen!” Elena panted as she told her friends Arturo and Nicolás.

“No way! I gotta see this!” Arturo ran off. Nicolás shrugged and followed, leaving Elena alone to catch her breath and tell the others. A while later they returned. Arturo said, “You were right. So much gold!”

“Why would I lie?” Elena laughed, but she was hurt her friends didn’t believe her word.

“It really is a miracle,” said Nicolás. Elena gave a small smile; she had to find Rosa and tell her the news. “This is going to change everything.” • Naomi Zylstra

• Consider taking some time to read the Bible passages that today’s allegorical story is inspired by. On more than one occasion, God first gave big news to women, including the news that Jesus had risen from the dead! Why do you think God chose to do it this way even though, in that society, a woman’s testimony was not considered as trustworthy as a man’s?

• Why is knowing Jesus the most valuable treasure? (Matthew 13:44-46; Philippians 3:8)

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. Matthew 28:8 (NLT)