“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day
of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel
of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone
and sat on it. His appearance was like
lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead
men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do
not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was
crucified. He is not here; he has risen,
just as he said. Come and see the place
where he lay. Then go quickly and tell
his disciples: “He has risen from the
dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see him.” Now I
have told you.’” (Matthew 28:1-7)
The greatest event in all of human history,
and Matthew tells it in just a paragraph or two! Jesus was crucified, dead, buried. His followers were grief-stricken, hopeless,
coming to care for His body. But God had
other plans! They should have expected
it, even His enemies knew He had predicted it and made arrangements to guard
against it. But it was so unbelievable,
so beyond anything imaginable, that until it happened they could not believe
it, and even then it was not easy!
It’s not easy for us to believe it,
either. We’ve seen death. We’ve been to funerals, buried loved
ones. Death is permanent. People don’t just come back alive again. But Jesus did! History records it. The disciples testified to it. Changed lives confirm it. The church proclaims it. Jesus -- died -- came back to life!
That is the core truth of Christianity. It is the one act of Jesus that divides
people. Believe it, and you must follow
Him, what other choice is there. Don’t
believe it, and you cannot follow Him.
“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is
your faith. And if Christ has not been
raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. If only for this life we have hope in Christ,
we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” (1 Corinthians
15:14,17,19-20)
Christ has been raised from the dead. So follow Him!!!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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