Jesus Is Raised from the Dead Matt 28:1-10 // Mark 16:1-11 // Luke 24:1-12 // John 20:1-18
1Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an iangel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.3His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.4The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.7And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.9And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
He is alive! The tomb is empty! There is nothing more important than this one great event. Without the resurrection, or faith is useless and false and with it we are assured of our faith and eternal future. If the Jews or the Romans produce the body of Jesus, Christianity is nothing without the resurrection and with it, there is no denying that it is the one true path to the one true God. Without the resurrection, the Bible is a lie, and with it, the Bible is obviously written by the one true God who is eternal and love us.
Don’t let the fact that Jesus first appeared to the women go unnoticed. If the Gospel writers were lying, the would never have had Jesus appear to the women first. Remember, women were barely more the merchandise at this time and considered extremely unreliable witnesses. But this means so much more than that. Jesus went first to those lowest on the social ladder (a very unjust social ladder). No one is too low for Jesus. Many are too high on the ladder for Jesus, but none are too low. If you want to be with Jesus, get off the social ladder. Be humble and the living God will meet you.
Lord, I am speechless. Be alive in me. Be alive in my heart. Help me be humble and get off the social ladder. Change me Lord.