He Has Risen!

Matthew 28: 1-8

¹ After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

 ² 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. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ 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.”

 ⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 

Any writer feels incapable in describing the event we know as the resurrection of Jesus.  Little more can be said than what verse 6 in the Matthew 28 reading says.  "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."  His closest followers have renewed hopes. Everything he had promised was coming to be true. This event proved to them they hadn't been wrong in making the decision to follow Jesus. It had led them at times to embarrassment, ridicule, doubt, and even arguments in their own ranks. But now, Jesus is alive. Everything is different. Their decision to follow him was not wrong. 

How about you? Perhaps you, just like the disciples have made the choice to follow Jesus. You have felt it was the right thing to do.  Then something happens and doubts arise. Maybe you are ridiculed by your friends. It could be that you have encountered suffering or even persecution for the choice you made.  The Christian life can be difficult at times, and many choose not to follow him.

His resurrection is the assurance that whatever comes our way, nothing is going to stop God from loving us, and nothing will negate the evidence of the dead Jesus from the cross being raised  from the tomb on that Sunday morning.  Read the end of the book......we are the winners!  The problems, hurts, difficulties, or sufferings that will come our way should never cause us to lose faith.  We are going to win the battles.  He promises to take each step with us. Victory is already ours.  Jesus lives!

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