A Happy Easter

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10 ESV). They were desperate to keep Jesus in the tomb! All they needed was three days, and then they could prove a lie to all He said. Just three short days, and it would make mockery of Jesus and His claims of Messiah. Three days would prove them right and Him wrong. There was no question that Jesus was dead. They had seen to that. They were there when He was crucified. They were there when He cried out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" They were there when He said, "It is finished!" O yes, they were there. They were there when the Centurion certified that He was dead, satisfying Roman law. They were there when Joseph of Arimathea took His body down from the cross, satisfying Jewish law. They were there when He was wrapped with hundreds of yards of linen and coated with spices and perfume. They were there when He was placed in the tomb. O yes, they were there. They were there when the huge oval stone was placed in front of the tomb. They were there when the workmen secured the stone with mortar. They were there when the grave was sealed. They were there when the guards were placed before the tomb. O yes, they were there. They had made it impossible for a live man to get in, and a dead man to get out. Thus, by their own hands they proved beyond all doubt that only God could leave the tomb! And He did! Centuries have come and gone, and time has dulled the miracle of that Easter morn. We celebrate a day, the early church celebrated a Life. It would do us well to forsake the day, and embrace the Life. No matter what men say, the cross is barren and the tomb empty.