He Is Risen Indeed!
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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."
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. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there." (Matthew 28:1-10 NLT)
It's Good Friday - the day we celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Someone once asked me, "How could a day that represents something so horrible be called 'good'?" At the time, Jesus' disciples wouldn't have called it good either.
Jesus had been arrested and put on trial by those who were blinded to both His purpose and His message. Judged guilty of blasphemy, His hands and feet were bound to a post and He was flogged with a lead-tipped whip. A crown of thorns was woven together and pressed into His head while the soldiers mocked and spat upon Him. Balancing a heavy wooden cross upon his tattered shoulder, they led Him up Golgotha's hill, drove nails through His hands and through His feet, and hung Him on that cross.
For six long hours, a handful of followers wondered expectantly, a crowd of mockers watched scornfully, and all of heaven waited patiently. Suddenly, Jesus gathered his last agonizing breath and shouted, "It is finished!" Then the unthinkable happened - the Messiah allowed Himself to die. The Light of the World was laid to rest in a darkened tomb, and the hope of all mankind was buried with Him. But the answer to the question lies in this one central truth: It wasn't the end!
Three days later, God raised Jesus from the dead! (See Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20) Our faith is not founded on a dead body in a borrowed tomb, but upon a risen and reigning Savior! The words of the angel still ring loud and clear: He is not here! He is risen!
Hallelujah (Praise the Lord)!
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