He Is Risen!
Every year in the NCAA basketball tournament, there are some stunning victories that leave us wondering what happened. We expect a game to go one way, and the outcome leaves us frozen in disbelief. When several women went to the tomb where He was laid, they expected to anoint Jesus’ crucified body. But they were stunned to find that He was not there. Instead, He had risen from the grave, in victory… just as He had foretold. I pray that you will never cease to be amazed at the love for us that sacrificed Jesus on the cross, and the power of the resurrection that saved us and gave us the victory. Amen
Click the link and Listen to Maverick City sing “Don’t Cry” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOmbA0stZL4
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:1-3) Early on Sunday morning these women went to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. That morning, their major concern was how they would get into the tomb where He was laid, given that the entryway was blocked by a very large, heavy stone. The purpose of the stone was to prevent anyone from robbing the grave. Certainly Matthew’s account indicates that in addition to the large stone, there were Roman soldiers guarding the tomb so that Jesus’ followers could not remove the body to claim that He had risen (Matthew 27:62-66)
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. (Mark 16:4-5) The women’s concerns about moving the stone proved moot, as when they looked up, the stone had already been rolled away. They were alarmed at what they saw when they went inside the tomb…. Not the body of Jesus, but a young man (angelic messenger) dressed in a white robe!
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark 16:6-8) The angelic messenger immediately addressed the women’s fear (don’t be alarmed). Then he addressed the purpose for their visit (looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified). Finally, he delivered the stunning proclamation of the resurrection (He has risen! He is not here)
The Bible says that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Jesus died for us (Rom. 5:8). But it would have all been for nothing if Christ had not risen from the dead. For it is the fact of the resurrection that is the assurance that our faith is not in vain and our salvation has been secured. Because of the resurrection, we can exult in joy that we have been saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus. And so it is that we proclaim in exuberant exultation on this Sunday (and every day)… He is risen and we have the victory!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
