Resurrection

Resurrection (by David Peterson)

At dawn, on the first day of the week, devout women, followers of Jesus found an empty tomb in which the stone had been rolled away. As they left to report this finding to the others, Matthew 28:9-10 records: “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “‘Rejoice!’ And they came up and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go, bring word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

These women, including Mary Magdalene, were the first to see Jesus in resurrection form. They saw Him, they talked to Him, and they touched Him - our Lord and Savior - after He came back to life.

Reflecting on this glorious event, perhaps the greatest event ever recorded in the history of mankind, Pastor John MacArthur wrote; “Each of the [four Gospel writers] have their own emphases, and they feature elements of the resurrection that are unique to them, but they all agree on four truths … The emptiness of the tomb, the testimony of the angels, the witness of the women, and the unbelief of the Apostles. These are the four core evidences for a real resurrection.” Scripture verifies these supernatural events and the fact that Jesus, crucified and buried, arose from His grave as a triumph over death and sin.

In celebration of Easter Day, Charles Wesley wrote the memorable hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” in 1739. The powerful first verse is;

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Alleluia, give praise to God, for He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Let us pray: Heavenly Father God, you sent your Son to earth to save us from our sins. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and in turn put to death all of the sins of His believers. Our resurrected Christ grants all Christians eternal life! Amen!