But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, Luke 24:1-8 NRSV
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There are a lot of events that have taken place through the history of this world that have changed the course of life. This world has seen wars, inventions, technology has literally transformed our lives, and we don’t know what is next.
Each of us have experienced life changing events in our lives. Things have happened in your life both in your control and out of your control that have been responsible for the landscape of your life.
Out of all the things each of us, or the world have faced, good, bad, or otherwise, nothing has had the historical, present, and future impact like the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Easter Story is an integral part of the “Good News” of Jesus Christ. Easter is not a historical event, or a story to be told like the Christmas Story. The birth of Jesus was an event that took place in the past. Jesus came into this world on a certain day, which was the result of a virgin birth, conceived of by the Holy Spirit.
The Easter Story took place on a certain day. Jesus was raised from the dead on a certain day, but the effects of the resurrection have historical, present, and future impact. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not static, but is dynamic.
Jesus is our great high priest, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us in ways we neither understand or are aware of. It is through the death and resurrection we have access to God, and have been restored into the loving relationship we are created to have with the Father.
In the early dawn Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome came to the grave (sepulcher) to finish the anointing of Jesus. These women did not expect to find the sepulcher empty. The evidence of this is in them bringing herbs to finish the burial process.
Matthew indicates there was a great earthquake and the angel of the Lord rolled the stone back, and the guards fainted. The stone must have weighed close to a thousand pounds, and no one without tools could have moved the stone.
Roman guards would give their life in their duty to carry out their assignment, in this case guarding the tomb the Christ was placed in. It appears upon waking and finding an empty tomb, the guards fled the scene.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone [a]from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. Matthew 28:2-4 NKJV
While there are minor differences in the gospels of the accounts of this early morning, there is nothing that is not reconcilable. What is agreed on is that the stone was rolled away. The women who came to the tomb entered it and found it empty.
While they were standing there the angels appeared suddenly. The angel who spoke to them, reminded the women of what Jesus had previously promised.
The women ran from the empty tomb and did as they were instructed by the angels.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. Luke 24:9-11 NKJV
The disciples did not believe these story and ran to the tomb to see for themselves. John arrived first, and must have stood in total disbelief that the stone was rolled away just as it was reported. Peter ran into the tomb without hesitation first.
They saw the linens, intact, and empty of Jesus’ body. This was the proof that Jesus had risen from the dead. At this point the disciples left. Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb to mourn. Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping when Jesus suddenly appeared to her.
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the [b]disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 20:11-18 NKJV
Jesus appeared to the disciples on their way to Emmaus. Jesus made many other appearances before His ascension into heaven.
The women who entered that tomb that morning to first find Jesus’ body risen were reminded of the promise of Jesus.
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words. V 6-8
Even after being reminded they did not remember, or perhaps believe. They returned to the tomb to mourn Jesus’ death. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she clung to Jesus. She clung to the physical, temporal presence of Jesus.
When we look at the empty cross, we are reminded of our Risen Savior. We remember His promises. The question is, what do we do when we are not standing before the cross as our reminder. Do we begin to lose faith? Do we quickly forget the promise of Jesus when He said:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:1-6 NKJV
Let’s come to this Easter Sunday and renew our faith in Christ. Let’s remember everyday the work that He completed when He died in our place on Calvary. And then, let’s share the story with love and compassion, without judgment to anyone who will listen.
There is power in the name of Jesus. The phrase “pray in the name of Jesus” is often used by Christians, and it refers to the practice of praying to God and asking for His help, guidance, or protection.
Two things about the death of Christ. The first was that since one person died for and in place of everyone else, everyone had died. What is this death at the end? Either the death they deserved because of their sin.
It’s odd how we often acknowledge that we take on too much, and try to accomplish things in our own strength, and need to rely more on Jesus. And yet we continue to do the same thing over and over.
The conscience is a divinely given moral compass that can be swayed by many factors, such as our background, experiences, and thoughts. What is important is the truth that one has to inform their conscience.
Life is rough for most people today. Just when we have hope of a life returning to normal, we are seeing things none of us have ever seen in our lifetime.
To grasp the magnitude of our deliverance, we must first comprehend where we came from. We are not exempt from the repercussions of our actions because we are descendants of Adam.
