Darkness brought on by the death of Jesus who carried all our sin.  But this Darkness is now defeated by the Light of Life!  Jesus, who’s body carried the scars from the beatings, whippings and the ultimate excruciating suffering from being nailed to a cross, has been brought back to life in the same body who left earth for a split second to go to hell and back to obtain our redemption with the bonus of life eternal.  Yes, He paid it all indeed.

But what was that like?  How did resurrection morning feel?

I still love the song written and sung by Sandi Patty years ago. “Was It a Morning Like This?”  The words and music draw us closer to the day the Marys went to visit the tomb of their beloved Friend and Lord who became their Savior.

Was it a morning like this?
When the Son still hid from Jerusalem
And Mary rose from her bed
To tend to the Lord she thought was dead

Was it a morning like this?
When Mary walked down from Jerusalem
And two angels stood at the tomb
Bearers of news she would hear soon

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Was it a morning like this?
When Peter and John ran from Jerusalem
And as they raced towards the tomb
Beneath their feet was there a tune?

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Was it a morning like this?
When my Lord looked out on Jerusalem

He is risen
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah!

Yes, Hallelujah, indeed!  What Great News of hope and clarity for why we live the life we do with Christ.  This earth life is only temporary as we live the hope of life eternal with Jesus who has defeated death and has prepared a place for you and I in God’s heaven!

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 28:1-15, NLT

The Resurrection

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

² Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. ³ His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. ⁴ The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

⁵ Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. ⁷ And 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.”

⁸ The 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. ⁹ And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

The Report of the Guard

¹¹ As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. ¹² A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. ¹³ They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ ¹⁴ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” ¹⁵ So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

THINK ABOUT THE FIRST WITNESSES!  IMAGINE BEING THERE!

The Guards – The earth, God created with Jesus by His side, shook in great earthquake proportions, showing the mighty power of God who is in control always.  The heavy stone, sealed by strong men, was rolled, tossed away like a cheap prop in a play, causing such fear in the Roman soldiers that they passed out!  Smiling here, because I think this is a bit comical along with the irony of strength the Romans think they have versus an angel of God, white and bright as blinding lighting, now sitting on top of the rolled away stone to speak the message of the Lord!  I have to think that the angel enjoyed his mission greatly along with watching the guards pass out!

The Marys – The beloved Marys, how they loved Jesus.  They watched in fear and amazement of seeing the stone tossed aside and the angel now turning to speak to them since the soldiers have gone to “sleep”.  “He’s risen, just as He said!”  Could Jesus words be echoing in their minds, about “the Temple being rebuilt in three days”?  We do know that Hopelessness has now been defeated.  Hope eternal is fully alive!  “I’m going away for a while, but I’ll be back”, said Jesus when as He walked with them. 

Could these words be ringing in their ears? 

Friends, how many times a day must we be reminded that Jesus IS coming back to claim His own?  Just as He said!  When in the middle of fear and trouble, do we remember what Jesus said and did to save us, with promises to help us through life, as He prepares a place for us with Him in eternity.  Don’t lose Hope!  Hope is alive!

NOW, GO QUICKLY AND TELL

For the Marys, fear is gone, Hope restored, overwhelming Joy turns grief to urgency in running, not walking, to go tell the others!  Imagine this joy!  We can only compare it to the time we repented and gave all to Jesus in surrender in return for His extreme gift of forgiveness!  Go back to that day and remember.  We might come close to this day of knowing Jesus is risen indeed–Just as He said—for the very first time!

AS THEY OBEYED, JESUS MET THEM!!

Friends, I am overwhelmed just now by the thought of Jesus meeting His Beloved on the path to obedience to “go and tell”!  Pause, let this sink in!  He meets us on our paths to our own obedience to God, too!  The Marys responded to Jesus in worship!  Do we worship when Jesus comes to us in the middle of our obedience?  Or do we rush ahead, missing these awesome moments, to get the mission accomplished?  Oh, the Marys didn’t!  Jesus, their beloved friends, Savior and Lord, has met them on the path with more encouragement and the more information for they have been faithful beyond the rest of the discipels.  “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”  Wow.

CONFLICTING STORIES—LIE VS. TRUTH

The lies are still being told today.  It didn’t happen, the scoffing world says.  Jesus did not rise again, that’s just a story.  The ones who killed Jesus gave the soldiers a bribe to lie and stick with the lie.  “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’” The religious leaders lied from a place of fear, pride, arrogance, and envy being led by evil. 

Obviously, we have a choice to believe the lie or believe, accept forgiveness, gain life eternal, and to go and tell the Truth.  Friends, choose wisely, our lives and those around us depend on what we spread.  Follow Truth, who is Jesus.

“I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And 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.”

Oh Lord,

How we do remember by reading Matthew’s Good News!  You are our Hope, our Living Hope!  Keep us remembering, obeying, cherishing each word, worshiping You alone, telling and maturing in Your love.  Help us to tell Your Story, just as You said.  Thank you, Lord!

In Jesus Name, Amen