“He has risen”
What if there had never been a cross?
&
What if there had never been a payment for our sins?
- If not for the cross, there is not forgiveness for our sins.
- If not for the darkened sun, the veil ripped in two pieces, and the earthquakes, the crucifixion of Jesus and the two criminals may have been unnoticed by the masses.
- If not for the resurrection from the grave three days later, there would only remain—Death & Despair.
If not for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no PROOF of NEW LIFE!
- All that we are—
- All that we believe—
- All that we hope—
- All that we trust—
Everything we believe hinges on the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave!
“Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right,
(The Gospel According to Mark 16: 5-6 NAS)
wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
And he said to them,
“Do not be amazed;
you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,
who has been crucified.
He has risen;
He is not here;
behold, here is the place where they laid Him.”
Just imagine the scene.
The day was Sunday morning, and the Sabbath rest was complete. The three women walked to the tomb where they knew the Roman soldiers had laid Jesus’ dead body. The ladies were carrying spices that the Jewish religious Nicodemus had purchased for them to prepare the body of Jesus for DEATH.
It was very early on that Sunday, the first day of the week, when the women reached the tomb. During the walk, they discussed how they would ever roll away the extremely large stone they had seen the Roman soldiers roll into place, sealing off the entrance to the tomb. The government leaders’ stationed soldiers guarding the tomb, intent on keeping a follower of Jesus from stealing the DEAD BODY of JESUS, from claiming through the theft that Jesus had risen.
NEVERTHELESS, JESUS HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD—JUST AS HE PROCLAIMED HE WOULD!
- The soldiers had been present—When Jesus walked out ALIVE!
- The tomb had been unsealed—When Jesus walked out ALIVE!
- The women found the tomb entrance open, just as it had been—When Jesus walked out ALIVE!
The opened tomb was not for Jesus but for us, the astonished and amazed.
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The opened tomb was for the unbelieving, so they might believe in JESUS!
“Looking up,
(The Gospel According to Mark 16: 4-5 NAS)
they saw that the stone had been rolled away,
although it was extremely large.
Entering the tomb,
they saw a young man sitting at the right,
wearing a white robe;
and they were amazed.”
- Distress and Despair Turned to Weeping and Grief when Jesus was hanged upon the cross.
- Disbelief and Worry Turned to Astonishment and Amazement when the women saw the tomb entrance open.
Imagine what a difference the narrative would make if people understood that Jesus has risen from the grave. Our world would be turned upside down if people believed this TRUTH. For over 2,000 years, this AMAZING JOY HAS REMAINED!
While the women stood there, when they stepped inside the open tomb, holding the spices they had carried for the anointing of JESUS’ DEAD BODY, the angel of the LORD confirmed the TRUTH!
“He has risen;
(The Gospel According to Mark 16: 6b NAS)
He is not here;
behold, here is the place where they laid Him.”
Then the angel gave the women a task, the same task the Holy Spirit of God gives to each believer still today. May we who believe in Jesus, who have given our hearts and lives to Him—
May we ‘Go & May we Tell’—as we have been commissioned.
“But go, tell His disciples and Peter,
(The Gospel According to Mark 16: 7 NAS)
‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee;
there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ “
PRAISE GOD—THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH!
“For He was teaching His disciples and telling them,
(The Gospel According to Mark 9: 31 NAS)
“The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men,
and they will kill Him;
and when He has been killed,
He will rise three days later.”