The Victory in the Resurrection

Two days had passed since Jesus' death and all seemed hopeless. Can you imagine the anguish, the hopelessness of those who had placed their trust in Him? He was dead! Dead. How could they expect help from Someone who wasn't alive? How could they expect help from Someone who ultimately suffered the same consequences to sin as they did? What good was Christs perfectly lived life, if it had still resulted in death? As our pastor pointed out, what about their forefathers who had trusted in the coming Messiah for their salvation? "These all died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."(Hebrews 11:13) "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." The prophets longed to see and understand the grace that was to be experienced through the Messiah...But He had died, due to our sin. How did that make sense? Were they/we now destined to hell? Were they without hope? Their minds must have been so confused, their hearts heavy and their doubts many.

The third morning, some women make their way to the grave of the One in whom they had placed their trust. They came early in the morning, just as the sun was starting to rise. Perhaps they felt that the sun had no right to shine so brightly when their own thoughts seemed so dark. They were fully prepared to anoint a dead body; to see the face they had loved, now gray with death. I can't imagine that there was too much conversation, other than the puzzlement as to how they were going to get the stone that barricaded their way, rolled away from the entrance.

However, in Matthew, the Bible records that there was an earthquake and "an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." Thus, the women were greatly surprised to find that "the stone (was) rolled away from the sepulchre" (Luke 24:2) I think if I had been there I might have been a bit wary about trying to go any further, much less try to go into the actual tomb. An earthquake can do some pretty severe damage, and though Christs body had already been beaten and pierced, they had no way of knowing what it would look like now. However, "they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus" (Luke 24:3) This left them with even more confusion. What was going on? Had the body been stolen? Had the earthquake somehow moved it? Well, "it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments." (Vrs. 4) NOW the women responded in fear "and bowed their faces to the earth."

Though I don't think they were any less confused, they knew that something special was happening. The angels then speak, bringing the words of life that would bring hope to their souls and to the billions of lives that would follow.

"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is RISEN!"

And in that incredible moment of understanding, that moment of Resurrection, all was well again. The disciples doubts were erased, their fears were put to rest, our sins were washed away and we were given the right to become the sons of God; to have a relationship with God the Father, because of Christ the Son. What an overwhelming thing to know that "God treated Christ as a sinner, so He could treat sinners, like Christ." What a great God!

All of the women go rejoicing on their way, except Mary. For some unknown reason, perhaps for fear, she did not enter the tomb with the other women "but stood without and wept" (John 20:11) She sees the two angels sitting and they even ask her why she is crying. She tells them and then not expecting them to really understand her sorrow or to be able to help her, she "turned herself back". That's when she saw Him. It was her risen Lord! Yet, she didn't recognize Him. He too asks her why she is weeping and who she is seeking. Did He already know? Yes, of course He did, but I think that, just like with us today, He wanted to hear her say that she was searching for Him, that she loved Him. Mary replies but, once again, not expecting much help, turns away. That's when Jesus says her name "Mary." I wonder if that single word, her own name, said by her Lord, just sent tingles down her spine. "The sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name. and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice." (John 10:3-4) "She turned herself, and saith unto Him 'Rabboni; which is to say Master" (John 20:16) Talk about a tear-jerking reunion!

However, Jesus says "Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren..." And what was Jesus going to tell His brethren? I think this next part is so interesting; to know that these were the thoughts that were most immediate on Christs mind, after rising from the dead. "...and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and YOUR FATHER; And to My God, and YOUR GOD." (Vrs. 17) That's what His death had accomplished! We now have the same merits, the same rights to call God our Father. We are His children! And Christ wanted to share with Mary the joy that was now hers.

Of course, being His child does bear responsibility, for skip down to verse 21 and you'll find Christ saying "Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you."

How am I portraying Christ to the world around me? Am I living in a way that allows them to see His love, His sacrifice, His life, His joy, His Fathers glory?

He's gone to be with His Father again, now that he's made the way for us to join them someday, but He's coming back, you know. "A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father (who is also now YOUR Father). In that day, ye shall ask in My name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me and have believed that I came from God." John 1716, 26-27) We no longer need a mediator. We can go directly to God!

"And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." Their response? No more sorrow! "And they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God." They were thankful for far beyond that Easter Day, for their every day lives had been changed for all of eternity.

I Corinthians 15:52-58- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumped shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of the sin is the law. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVETH US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!" ---And because of that knowledge, O Christian, have faith, rise up, take back the ground and press on!---"Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

There IS hope. He IS coming back. We WILL spend an eternity with Him.

Can't wait to meet my Savior in person, throw my arms around Him and thank Him for all He did. I am forever indebted.