Matthew 28:1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
Reflection
They saw the stone roll away! They saw the lightning and felt the earthquake that rolled that stone away. Both of the women saw this and the guards also. It was frightening enough to cause the tough guards to shake and paralyze them as if they were dead.
And as that stone rolled away... the tomb was empty! The guards knew that Jesus was in that tomb on Friday evening. The women knew that Jesus had been placed into this tomb... but as they saw the stone roll away... the also saw that this tomb could not contain Jesus.
But where is Jesus? The angel assured the women that they should not fear. The angel knew that the women were looking for Jesus and that the guards now were too for that matter. But the Jesus crucified... the Jesus who had become our sin, yes the sin of all the world that died on the cross that Friday, was not dead. Jesus was not among the dead, rather Jesus had overcome sin, death and the devil and was raised! Yes raised and living! Yes, raised and never to die! This Jesus is God! This Jesus took on the sin of all of us and lived through that sin to life for us! This Jesus is alive and moving and going ahead of the women to Galilee and to all the world.
It's true! This raised Jesus is going ahead to you, to me, to all the world to show that only he can overcome sin, death and the devil. It's only through Jesus that we live a resurrected life. Yes we too live that resurrected life here and now. Here and now even in this world full of sin, pain, illness, suffering... we too can live this resurrected life because of the hope we have in Jesus.
I saw the resurrection of Jesus and believe in Jesus. You too can witness to this resurrection and live in the hope of eternal life only through Jesus defeat of sin, death and the devil. My eternal life and your eternal life can begin right here and right now even in this world of sin. Even in the midst of my own sin, Jesus comes to me and to you and to all the world to grant salvation from our bondage to sin, death and the devil.
We can live this day forth in the hope of eternal life in Jesus. For Jesus has gone ahead of us. Jesus has left that tomb. Not even the walls of the tomb or the stone itself could contain Jesus. Jesus passed right through that stone someway, somehow to show the world that God saves his creation, his people, his loved one's through the gift of Jesus in the flesh, blood and spirit that we all are like.
So, let us all leave that tomb. We leave that tomb in fear and in wondrous joy to meet at the feet of Jesus and to worship Jesus... to hold tight to Jesus... to rejoice in the resurrected Jesus... our hope in this fallen world and our new life that lives on into eternity!
Yes... It's true!
He has risen!
He has risen indeed! Alleluia!
Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfM_tHIjWWQ
I have to wonder if the women and the men and all of creation throughout all time joined in this song upon the discover that Jesus was no longer in that tomb but alive and going on ahead of us. Listen to the people cheer upon the discovery of the resurrection in this song and break into your own cheer as you reflect upon this day and what God has done for you in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Throughout the pages of Scripture, Jesus resurrection and salvation are proclaimed. Yes the Word has become flesh and leaps from the pages of the Bible and history into the reality of today... tomorrow... and forever.
Christ has risen!
He has risen indeed! Alleluia!
Prayer
Lord, you have released all people from the confines of sin, death and the devil. Even though we still live in this sinful world we can live in the hope and the eternal life that you have graciously and lovingly granted through the ministry, the healing. the suffering, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. Fill us all with your Holy Spirit that we may proclaim your glory to all the world and to run in joy and thanksgiving to tell what you have done. May all people come to believe in your salvation... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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