“After the
Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary went to view the tomb. Suddenly
there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from
heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. The
guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.
But the angel
told the women, "Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus
who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He
said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His
disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you
to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you."
So, departing
quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples
the news.” (Matthew 28:1-8 HCSB)
The ladies
ventured early on that Sunday morning to a cemetery of all places. Saturday concluded history’s most well
known and ancient history’s most documented week. One week before the Galilean preacher Jesus rode into Jerusalem,
Israel’s capitol city, and was welcomed by multitudes as the promised Messiah
of the Jews. Later in the week
would begin the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover. High holy days they were.
As He had
predicted on multiple occasions Jesus would be arrested, wrongfully accused,
beaten and tried by religious and civil authorities, then by a corrupt court
and because of bribed “witnesses” He was condemned to death on a Roman
cross. Just as thousands had
welcomed Him into Jerusalem, likely thousands (in town for the holy days) would
witness His condemnation, His walk through the city and His death, crucified
between two thieves.
That He died was
indisputable. The Romans were
experts at crucifixion – their particularly tortuous manner of execution. They were equally expert at knowing
death when they saw it. So, after
His burial and three days in the grave, to find His tomb empty and hearing the
news that He was risen and alive was life-changing good news. History changed at that moment.
That’s why Jesus
lived, died and rose again: to change lives – morphing fallen men and women,
separated from God by sin to new life as the very children of God. That reconciliation with God is made
possible by His sacrifice and God’s affirmation when He raised Him up.
Don’t let this
week pass you by without pausing to ponder just what God has done. Better yet, believe it and join in on
the celebration now and for eternity.
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