TOMB TO TRIUMPH!

PASSOVER (Friday) arrived! After interrogations, mockery, extremely cruel, brutal beatings and torture, the time of the crucifixion of Jesus The Messiah took place, at around 9:00 in the morning. As Jesus hung on the cross, bearing your sins, mine and the sins of all humanity, complete darkness covered the entire earth for three hours in mid-day. This pictures for us the darkness that sin and rebellion against God brings into this world. The Bible is clear, "If we say we have fellowship with Him (Jesus) and yet continue to walk in darkness (sin), we lie and do not practice the truth. . . ." (I John 1:6). THEN, at the very moment that Jesus' spirit departed his body, lightening flashed, thunder roared, the earth shook, rocks were broken and the veil (curtain) in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom! This tearing was caused by DIVINE RESPONSE to Jesus' death! You see, the veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy Of Holies in the Temple. The Holy Of Holies was off limits to everyone except the High Priest, and he entered it only once a year to offer the sacrifice for his own sins and the sins of all the people. The Divine tearing open of that curtain was to prove to everyone that Jesus The Christ, our GREAT HIGH PRIEST, entered the Holy Of Holies and made ONE ETERNAL, LAST SACRIFICE through His death for the sins of the whole world. So, does that make you wonder if ALL humanity will be saved from their sins and go to heaven? Not according To The Bible! Scripture is absolutely clear that we must personally surrender our life to Jesus with full repentance and faith in Him alone and His atoning sacrifice to be saved and forgiven of our sins! That is the only way into heaven when we die! Have you done this?

On PASSOVER FRIDAY, HE DIED! BUT THEN, came Sunday, the first day of a new week. A great Christian song tells of the events. Here are the lyrics:

"They all walked away, nothing to say. They'd just lost their dearest friend,

All that he said, Now He was dead. So this was the way it would end.

The dreams they had dreamed, Were not what they'd seemed, Now that He was dead and gone, The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nails, How could a night be so long?

The angel, the star, the kings from afar. The wedding, the water, the wine, Now it was done,

They'd taken her Son, Wasted before His time. She knew it was true, she'd watched Him die too.

She'd heard them call Him "just a man," But deep in her heart she knew from the start,

Somehow her Son would live again.

THEN CAME THE MORNING! Night turned into day, the Stone was rolled away,

Hope rose with the dawn!

THEN CAME THE MORNING, Shadows vanished before the sun. Death had lost and Life had won, For Morning Had Come!

Morning had broken, Like the first morning. The Stone was rolled away, Hope rose with the dawn. Morning had Come!

Indeed, RESURRECTION MORNING was the order of that Day! An earthquake, a Divine shaking, an angel rolled the two-ton tombstone away from the tomb's entrance. The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out, but to let people in to see for themselves that it was empty. Bursting forth in glorious power and life, the Resurrected Christ came out of the tomb, the Conqueror of death, sin and the grave! From the tomb to triumph! From death to life! From seeming defeat to glorious victory! From agony to joy! From sorrow to jubilation! From the Suffering Messiah, He is now the glorious and majestic King, who supremely rules over satan, sin, death, suffering, shame, grief, pain and mortality! HE IS THE ETERNAL LIFE-GIVER!

The Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian Faith! Without it, faith, hope, love, worship, comfort and peace, joy, spiritual victory, assurance and confidence, eternal residency in heaven, His presence with and in us through the Person of His Holy Spirit ----- ALL would either be in vain or an absolute impossibility! Jesus declared, "I AM the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never (eternally) die" (John 11:25-26).

There are many words, phrases and sayings that surround Jesus' Resurrection. Let's focus on some of the more prominent ones, and their appropriate application to us. Before doing that, let me digress to say a word about "Easter". This word is used commonly for this "holiday" that many celebrate. The word is also used in church, among Christians, and by pastors. I personally do not refer to it as "Easter" but as Resurrection Day! The word "Easter" is actually derived from the word "Eostre", an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility, whose festival was long celebrated near the vernal equinox? Eggs, marshmellow and chocolate bunnies are common secular symbols, originating from those pagan traditions representing rebirth and fertility. Resurrection Day is so much more than all of that! Resurrection Day is a Holy Day, rather than a holiday! It is a time of celebrating Jesus and His victory! Am I saying we shouldn't be coloring eggs, or observing any of the secular symbols? NO! But, let's be honest and truthful that these are secular and there is much more to be celebrated. Rather than a Secular Emphasis, let us as followers of Jesus put the SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS in its proper place of this celebration! JOYOUS RESURRECTION DAY!

Now, to the sayings in Scripture that surround the Resurrection of Jesus!

First, "Do Not Be Afraid," the words of the angel stationed at the empty tomb, spoken to the women who came early that Sunday morning (Mark 16:6). It is more than interesting (more like amazing) that the first words of the resurrection, spoken by the angel (really a message from God) were to be unafraid. Do you know that in the Bible a form of the phrase "Do Not Fear" is used 365 times; one time for every day of the year? Without question, many people are afraid in these days. Afraid of way too many things, people, places, and circumstances to list here. We do not need any psycho-analysis to pin-point our fears; we know we all have them. But God says, "Do not be afraid." He assures us, "I am in control; I am taking care of you and of your needs. You may not see it or feel it, but you can trust Me, I have your back; My grace surrounds you; I will never leave or forsake you." Second, the angel continued speaking to the women, "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified" (Mark 16:6). Indeed, the women had come with spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They were looking to find Him at His grave! We look for many things today; hope, peace, happiness, pleasure, fun and games, a good job, a house to call home, a nice car, money, a good savings account, treasures, comfort, security, and the list could go on endlessly. I want to encourage us all to seriously, purposefully and intensely LOOK FOR JESUS in this world we live in, when so many voices and pursuits clamor for our attention, energy and devotion. Let's be like the Greeks we read about in the Bible who came to the Disciple Philip and said, "Sir, we want to see Jesus" (John 12:21). These people desired a personal encounter with Jesus. You know, we can tell all we need to know about our priorities, objectives, goals, ambitions, life's purpose, etc., by what we go after, what we pursue, what occupies our thoughts, motives, plans, desires and time. In the midst of all that stuff, are we truly looking for Jesus?

Third, the angel said, "He is not here; He has risen" (Mark 16:6). Aren't you glad for the empty tomb? Jesus was not confined by death or by the grave! He is not the dead Christ; He is the Living Christ! We can join with the hymn writer who penned, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia! Mortal tongues and angels say Alleluia. Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, glad heavens and earth reply Alleluia! While He is "not here" in the grave, He is very much HERE! He is available, ready to help, rescue and save us! He has not changed; He is still "the same yesterday, today and forever!" (Hebrews 13:8).

Fourth, when Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb, weeping, struggling, questioning, and seeking, she saw someone through her tears that she supposed was the gardener of the tomb area. Jesus took the initiative and spoke to her first, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" (John 20:15). Jesus identified with her IN her suffering, agony, pain, hurt and deep struggle! He reached out to her first; not even waiting for her to reach out to Him! What a grace-filled, love-packed, and comfort-giving approach; what genuine concern; what impactful presence that turned Mary's entire life around! When she saw and heard Him, Mary's perspective was changed; her sorrow turned to joy, peace replaced struggle and hopelessness was transformed into hope in her life! It may well be that some of us are weeping, hopelessly in suffering and agony in this day or season. Could it be that Jesus is taking the initiative today to ask you "why are you weeping?" He knows and understands it already, but He wants you to acknowledge your "weepings" and sense His love, grace, comfort, peace and healing tailor made just for YOU! ONLY HE can give this all to YOU! Jesus wants you to see Him! HE IS THE TRUST-RESTORER!

Fifth, Jesus said "Mary." He called her by name! She immediately knew His voice when He called her name! There was something dynamic and powerful that struck the C-note in her mind and inner being when she heard Him speak her name. I want to assure you today as well, He knows YOUR name and He calls out to YOU this very day and time with YOUR NAME wrapped up in His healing grace and love. Here's a Gospel Song that can grip us today in listening for and hearing His voice call out our very name!

"I have a maker, He formed my heart, Before even time began, My life was in His hands.

He knows my name, He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. He knows my name, I'm so glad I can say He knows my every thought; He sees each tear that falls, And hears me when I call."

Sixth, the first words Jesus spoke to His assembled disciples were, "Peace Be With You." (Luke 24:36; John 20:19). These words were evidently common words of greetings in the Jewish world at that time. But those words were also a strong source of assurance and comfort to those who had witnessed unimaginable violence, unfair treatment of their Lord and the severe turmoil and threats. In our times of unrest, and uncertainty, it's appropriate and important to remember Jesus' words of promise, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27).

These are very important and needful words spoken by the Resurrected Christ with direct and personal applications to us. It's my prayer and my hope as you consider each of them this Day of Jesus' Resurrection that you are strengthened and encouraged! "PEACE BE WITH YOU!"