Easter - The Lord is risen

At break of dawn on Sunday morning several of the women followers went to Jesus' tomb. They had been unable to embalm his body after his late burial on Friday night because of the Sabbath. However they had followed Joseph and the others and had made sure they knew where they had laid his body. They were carrying with them spices they had prepared to embalm his body. They had seen a huge rock being placed by the Romans to seal the entrance. They must have wondered as they walked to the tomb, how they were to move that boulder and enter the tomb. They may have thought the guards who had been posted outside would help them. Did they secretly hope that Christ had risen? And so came to see if the grave was empty? They had heard the Leaders talk amongst themselves that there were rumors that this could possibly happen. They had heard Christ say that he would rise again. Did they come with spices so that they would not look foolish if Christ lay dead in the tomb? How come it was the women who were the first to go and not the men? Did the disciples not expect Jesus to have risen from the dead? 

 When the women approached the tomb, suddenly there was an earthquake. An angel of the Lord appeared, and rolled away the stone that was blocking the entrance to the cave. The Roman guards who had been posted there trembled with fear and went into a state of unconsciousness. The Romans had been posted there at the insistence of some who felt that if rumors circulated that Christ rose from the dead, then it would only open Pandora’s box. The angel assured the women that Christ had risen. Then he invited them to see where Jesus' body had lain. The women were filled with hope of seeing Jesus again. 

 Inside the cave they saw another angel who reminded them of what Christ told them. Jesus would have to be betrayed into the hands of men who were sinful, crucified and on the third day he would rise again. Jesus had told the questioning, infuriated Pharisees that he would destroy the temple (i.e. His body) and in three days raise it again (John 2:13-24). Nevertheless no one understood the significance of his statement. But in retrospect it dawned on the disciples - all that he had said and how the scriptures were fulfilled. 

 The women were told to go quickly and give the good news to his disciples and to tell them that Jesus would meet all of them at Galilee. As they were hurrying out to go and give the news to the disciples, they suddenly encountered Christ who greeted them. In shock they stumbled and fell at his feet. Then in their joy they clung to his feet and worshipped him. How could one who had been so sorely beaten, crucified, dead, and buried, rise from the dead? Surely these thoughts may have crossed their mind. What was happening was beyond their comprehension. Their hearts filled with joy which only a while back had been downcast. The only words ringing in their minds, “The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed.” Jesus said, “Fear not and go tell all the believers to come and meet me at Galilee.” Death has lost its sting. We who believe live on in Christ.