Christ Has Risen
Luke 24:1-7
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. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 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? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee
Empty Tomb
“He is not here; he has risen!” Those are the words that Mary heard at the tomb. Early that morning the earth shook, the stone rolled away, and the tomb was empty. He had indeed risen from the grave just as he had said he would. Mary in her grief forgot that. She came with some other women to anoint Jesus with spices and prepare him for a proper burial. She was grieving the loss and wondering what was going to happen next. To her surprise she got to the tomb and found it empty. Jesus was alive but Mary wasn’t believing yet. In John 20:15 she mistook Jesus for the gardener. It wasn’t until Jesus got here attention that it all came into focus. He was alive.
Abundant Life
Sometimes we forget that Jesus was resurrected. Not in our memory but in how we live our lives. You see we look to the cross because that represents our sins being forgiven. We often forget what the resurrection means. We forget that when we choose to follow Jesus death no longer has a grip on us; it can’t hold us down, (Acts 2:24) We also forget that the resurrection brings us hope. John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly“. This abundant life isn’t just in heaven it’s for right now. Satan tries to steal our joy, but Jesus brings it to us in abundance. Finally, we forget that the resurrection also brings us a greater purpose. 2 Corinthian 5:15 says “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” The life we embark upon once we follow Jesus has way more in store than any life that we can muster on our own. Don’t forget today that when the angel says that Jesus rose what that fully means. Happy Easter!