He Is Risen

“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn’t here!  He is risen from the dead!”  [Luke 24:5-6]

I don’t like hospitals!  I don’t like being a patient in a hospital.  Unfortunately, over the last 18 months, I’ve experienced more hospital stays than I ever imagined!  I’m not much of a fan of visiting others in hospitals.  Unless it is the birth of a child, it usually means serious illness.  I don’t like that either.  And, I certainly don’t like cemeteries!    Death!  It just seems so…final.  Or is it?

When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed everything His disciples had lived, believed, and hoped for had all been for naught.  Not only did they witness His crucifixion, but they watched as He was buried in a dark, cold tomb.  It was over!  Death had spoken, or so they thought…

Everything changed on the morning of the first day of the week!  Early that morning, some women went to the tomb to put anointing spices on Jesus’ body.  However, when they arrived, they found the stone had been rolled away!  What?  A massive boulder had somehow been rolled away?  That was only the beginning of the impossible turned possible!  As they peered inside the tomb, Jesus’ body was gone!  Their minds could not process what their eyes were seeing.  Suddenly, two men in “dazzling robes” appeared and gave them an astonishing announcement:  “HE IS RISEN!”  What? Could it be?  Was it really possible?

You and I are the recipients of the greatest hope-filled announcement ever given:  “He, Jesus, is not here!  He is risen from the dead!”  Easter is a celebration of an empty tomb!  Jesus is alive!  The Savior, who came to die in our place and redeem us from our sins, is alive! 

Do you believe?  If you do, your life will never be the same!     

 Happy Easter!