Dearly beloved, He is risen! Yes, He is risen indeed!!
Easter is God’s Amen and Humanity’s Hallelujah!
As the grieving women approached the tomb where their beloved Friend and Teacher was laid after dying on the cross and as the day begin to dawn, their hearts were heavy with resignation at the loss of Jesus. For they came expecting to see death. But to their surprise they were met with something different than they had been expecting: The stone was rolled away from the sepulchre, and going in, they did not see Jesus' body in the tomb. As they looked, totally at a loss of what to think, they saw two men in shining garments standing by them. Naturally fear gripped them, they bowed their faces to the earth, and then heard the angels speak to them:
"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still alive in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." As they listened, they remembered the words of Jesus. They left the tomb, rushed to tell the eleven and others what they had seen and heard at the tomb.
The apostles, even though being taught by Jesus for 3+ years, considered that which they heard from the women as nonsense and did not believe what they had been told. Peter, not one to hang back and wait for things to become clear, ran to the tomb, stooping to look into the tomb, saw the linen clothes of Jesus lying by themselves, and left the tomb, marveling at what had come to pass...........
A few years ago during VBS a ten year old boy demonstrated to me and to the others who were with me of what it means to believe the Scriptures concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus. I had simulated the death of Jesus on the cross in one room and in another I had a simulation of the tomb where He was laid after His death on Good Friday. As I took a number of youngsters into the room where the tomb was, they looked into the tomb (as Apostle Peter did) and did not see Jesus's body in the tomb. So I asked a question of them all as to where Jesus's body was, and very quickly the ten year old burst out. "He is alive again, you can't keep God dead!" Amen to that statement!!!
Luke 24:6-7 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."
Because He Lives, You Live!!!!!
Blessed resurrection day to you all!
Pastor Orval Wirkkala