THE RESSURECTION

Matt 27:57 – 64

57. When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea arrived; his name was Joseph, and he also was a disciple of Jesus.

58.  He went into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate gave orders for the body to be given to Joseph.

59.  So Joseph took it, wrapped it in a new linen sheet,

60.  And placed it in his own tomb, which he had just recently dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

61.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, facing the tomb.

62. The next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees met with Pilate

63.  And said, "Sir, we remember that while that liar was still alive he said, 'I will be raised to life three days later.'

64.  Give orders, then, for his tomb to be carefully guarded until the third day, so that his disciples will not be able to go and steal the body, and then tell the people that he was raised from death. This last lie would be even worse than the first one."

Heb 12:2

 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.

The Crucifixion leaves Christians without hope ... unless they keep reading the Bible and realize Jesus’ death is not the end of the story.  Just as Jesus predicted, He rose from the dead three days after He was buried. 

Over the years, sceptics have created several theories to try to explain away the Resurrection.  One such theory is called ‘The Wrong Tomb’.  Sceptics state that the disciples were so distraught at the death of their leader; they didn’t pay close enough attention to where He was buried.  Therefore, when they arrived at the tomb on Sunday morning and found it empty, they were actually at the wrong tomb!

 But Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and a few others watched Jesus being laid in the tomb.  There’s no stronger witness than an eyewitness!  Jesus’ mother knew where His grave was located.  Would she suddenly forget?  Would the others who were with her suddenly forget as well?

On Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and some other women approached the tomb and found the stone had been rolled aside.  Peering inside the tomb, they saw that the body of Jesus was gone, but His grave clothes were still there, folded nearly where he had once lain.

An angel appeared to them and explained that Jesus had risen from the dead.  They informed the disciples, and Peter and John ran to the tomb to discover the same thing:  it was empty! 

Later that day, Jesus Himself appeared to two of His followers as they approached the village of Emmaus.  Jesus also appeared to the 10 disciples and proved to them he had actually conquered death.  Thomas wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus first entered their meeting place, but Jesus appeared later with Thomas among them.  He told Thomas to feel the holes in His hands where the nails had been and to place His hand in Jesus’ side where He was pierced with the spear. Thomas fell on his knees and proclaimed that Jesus truly was his Lord.

Jesus did indeed conquer death!  He is alive!  As Christians, that gives us and incredible reason to celebrate! 

This morning we attended an Easter Sunday service at our Church.  The message was about Victory and Life!  Jesus stood Victorious over death and by His victory ensured our eternal Life!  He has also promised us, that He will come back to fetch us to take us home, there where we are destined to be. This will also not be the end, but it will only be the beginning!

1 Pet 1:3 ‘ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,’

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
and life is worth the living just because He lives.

God Bless!