He Is Risen!

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After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7

When I was young, Easter was about colored eggs, chocolate, and the Easter bunny. To say that I didn't understand what Easter was really about is something of an understatement. Then again, to expect a child to understand the import of exactly what Easter is about is perhaps expecting a bit much.

It was many years before I truly began to understand what this day means.

He came as a man, born into humble circumstances though surrounded by angels. He became a carpenter and a teacher. He was sent as the Messiah, though most of us did not receive Him as such.

He was condemned, tortured, and sent to die in a most horrible fashion.

But little did the powers of this Earth know, there was no tomb built which could hold the Son of Man. He arose from the dead. Having paid the price for our sins and our sinful nature He now sits at the right hand of the Father.

Death has been conquered. Paradise has been opened.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?"

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-8

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. John 20:3-8