Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7 (NLT)
Imagine the astonishment and apprehension the women felt when they saw the angel and heard the news he shared! They had come to put burial spices on Jesus’ body, but the tomb was empty. The angel told them Jesus was not there, but they should not be afraid. He had been raised from the dead just as He promised. Then the angel sent them off to share the good news with the disciples. Even though Jesus had prophesied about His death and resurrection on numerous occasions, no one really expected to see an empty tomb or find Him alive. It took proof for them to truly believe, and proof they had when Jesus soon appeared before the disciples and more than 500 others. The resurrection became the foundation of our faith and removed any doubt Jesus was the Messiah!
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NLT)
He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT) History shows us we are not without dark times. We can identify periods when evil and darkness seemed to be in control. We can look back on our own lives and recall times of grief, hurt, loneliness, or despair. Or maybe those times are happening right now, and life seems empty of meaning or purpose. Jesus knows what that’s like—and even more. On the cross he suffered the agony of complete separation from God (descending into hell) so that we wouldn’t have to—and his body was placed in a tomb till he rose to life again on the third day. As we celebrate Easter, let us remember Jesus was our sacrificial Lamb, paying the sin debt for our salvation. He erased our sins by His death on the cross and resurrection three days later. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He forgives our sins and makes us right with God. What a blessing! Now it is our time, like Mary Magdalene and the disciples, to share the Good News. Let’s not keep it a secret.
Jesus is not in the tomb—He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
I hope you and your family have a very blessed Easter Sunday. Enjoy all of the celebrations and remember to thank God for sending His only Son to die on the cross to pay for our sins so we can have eternal life.
