April 5
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word,” Matthew 28:1-8.
There are many events to which we can direct our attention in the Easter season. But of all the events, what is the chief thing to remember? It can be summarized in the words of the angel: “He is not here; for He is risen!” We do not worship a dead Jesus. We worship a risen Redeemer and an ever-living Lord! He rose from the grave just as He said He would. The resurrection of Jesus is the high point in our teaching and preaching.
This is emphasized by the apostle Paul in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. Yes, there were doubters in those days, just as there are doubters today. Paul asked, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? . . . If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty . . . If the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable,” 1 Corinthians 15:12, 14, 16-19.
The Bible speaks of eleven different appearances of the Lord Jesus after His resurrection. There were many witnesses. The apostles preached and proclaimed that they had seen the risen Redeemer with their own eyes. With certainty they could say, as the apostle Paul did, “Now Christ is risen from the dead!” 1 Corinthians 15:20.
Today, every Christian will speak with the same certainty: “Christ is risen from the dead!” We regularly confess in the Creed, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” This is the very center of our Christian belief!
This is the message with which all Christians are commissioned to go quickly and tell: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Jesus accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. It was the message of the risen Redeemer that sent the women running on that first Easter morning. It was the message that the apostles boldly proclaimed in the face of all kinds of opposition and threats. It is the message that we, as Christians, are obligated to proclaim throughout the world. Let us hurry and carry this message to sinners everywhere: God loves you! He has declared you just and forgiven for Jesus’ sake! Jesus’ blood has washed away your sins! Sin, death, and the devil have been conquered. Jesus rose from the grave, and He promises that we too will be raised from the dead. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved!
“I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.” Amen.