Happy Easter, Y'all!

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. (Luke 24:1-6 ESV).

Perhaps my favorite verses declaring the resurrection are found in our reading today. The women come to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been placed expecting to perform the final rituals and preparations for it to be finally interred. They arrive at the site and the stone has been rolled to the side revealing and empty tomb. Jesus’ body is simply not there. Nothing is there! The Scripture says they were “perplexed.” I would say that may be one of the great understatements of history. While they are trying to figure out if they are even at the right place, two angels appear. They simply ask, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” WOW! Jesus is not dead. Now they knew everything Jesus said was true. Now they knew that he really was the Messiah! And, they now knew, when he rose from the grave, against all of Satan’s lies and schemes, he guaranteed for them the greatest realities in the world. Two thousand years later, the resurrection still preaches God’s relentless commitment to win every victory for us. Satan conspired with Judas, Pilate, and the Jewish leaders to kill the Author of life, but God raised him from the dead (cf. Acts 3:15). And if we believe in him, death cannot hold us either. Jesus said it so simply: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25). Jesus rose to prove that he had defeated death. Until he rose, death seemed to swallow up every ounce of life and hope from generation after generation. God had promised everlasting life centuries before, but the resurrection revealed it was certain for his chosen, redeemed, and adopted sons and daughters. Though many had lived and believed and died before him, Jesus was the firstborn from the dead (cf. Colossians 1:18). And if there is a first, God means for more to follow him. That’s why I rejoice. That’s why I can confidently look ahead in this life that is now nearly done and simply relax. Death for a believer is nothing more than walking from this life of trial, challenge, and trouble into the perfect harmony of life as God originally intended. Now, that’s something to celebrate! Happy Easter, y’all!