He Has Risen

Good Friday as we traditionally call it, was actually a dark Friday. It was reported on Friday, that Jesus Christ, aka as the Messiah, the Son of Man and the Son of God, died. The cause of death was reported that he was severely beaten, lost large amounts of blood from lacerations on his back, nail wounds to both his hands and feet. It is also reported that blood cover his face from wounds of thorns that had been pressed into his head. Even more puzzling, it is said that He had a wound in His side in which water and blood flowed, but this piercing did not kill Him. Apparently He was already dead. The underlying discovery is that He committed His spirit into the hands of God and died.

If that was not bad enough, His death occured just a couple of hours before the Sabbath rest and all of his most notable followers, and the religious elite and fellow Jews, went about business as usual. Trying to get the things they needed to prepare for the Sabbath, when no work could take place. However, two of the most unlikely people showed up to take care of His body, doing with two men what would usually take several people. Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night. They prepared His body and gave Him a proper burial in a tomb.

After this silent Sabbath Saturday, its recorded that Mary Magdalene accompanied by the other Mary went to see the tomb of Jesus. Before they arrive, there was a great earthquake. This is the second earthquake in three days. An angel of the Lord appears and rolls back the stone and sits on it. This sets up angelic experience for these. His appearance was amazing, so much so that it caused the guards to faint. This angel in an effort to calm their fears, commands the women not to be afraid. He has discerned their reason for being there and answers their unasked question.

The angel explains Jesus’ resurrection, proves it and instructs the women to go share it with his disciples, who He has plans to meet in Galilee, where they will see Him. On their journey these women encounter Jesus and are able to see Him for themselves. This may suggest, that if you search for Him, you are bound to encounter Him. Jesus again calms their fears and confirms the message of the angel to His disciples who have become identified as Jesus brothers. They in turn will meet him in Galilee and receive what we know as the Great Commission.

However, let me take you back to verses 7-9. It is here that we see the angel’s explanation, proof concerning Jesus’ resurrection. It is here that women receive divine instruction and have a divine encounter.

The Angelic Explanation V. 6a

The angel answers their unasked question by way of explanation.

He explains that Jesus is not here.

He is not in the tomb.

This is the last know location for Jesus body.

They came looking for a His corpse, body.

Why is He not here? Here is a good reason.

He has risen.

This word means to cause someone to live again after having once died, to raise to life, to make live again. To resurrect.

It usage suggest that the person did not raise themself, but someone else did it.

Yes He got up, but it was God who raised Him.

He did was He said would be done.

Here Jesus prediction was fulfilled. In chapter 27:63 the chief priest and Pharisees reminded Pilate of Jesus prediction that after three days He would rise.

This may help someone on the fence about dying. When you believe in Jesus as Lord, you can rest with the same assurance as Jesus, that God will raise you to eternal life, just as He did for Jesus.

The Visual Proof V. 6b

The angel gives visual proof of the empty tomb.

He commands them to come

This may suggest they were excited and yet still somewhat hesitant.

He commands them to see, to see with your own eyes where he laid. Where the body was located.

Note the details

The body was not there.

This suggest that if he has been resurrect it was more than just His spirit or soul returning to God.

If that was the case he could have left a body there.

We see that Jesus is seen with a body on all post-resurrection encounters.

He has risen with a glorious body, no longer subject to barriers, sickness, disease, pain or suffering.

Brothers and sisters at the day of resurrection, those who died in Christ will have some empty graves. There will be a literal change in these bodies from mortal to immortal. From corruption to incorruption.

The Angelic Instruction V. 7

The angel instructs them to take the message to Jesus disciples.

You cannot receive the good news and keep it to yourself.

Tell them he has risen from the dead.

God has raised him from among those who were no longer living. Whose physical bodies were in the grave.

Those who were lifeless.

Tell them He will be in Galilee when they get there.

He predicts they will see Him.

At this point Jesus predictions have all proved true. However we learn that some still doubted.

He tells them to move quickly. Promptly without delay.

The Obedient Response V. 8

The women respond with impeccable obedience.

The ran to tell the disciples.

They departed without delay

They did not call anyone

They did not gossip or debate

They did not pray about it first.

They did so with fear.

This fear was an anticipation of what could happen if they didn’t go quickly and tell it.

The dangers and evil.

They did so with great joy.

The were overjoyed to tell the news of Jesus being raised from the dead.

They did so with an extraordinary amount of gladness.

That should be the attitude of every Christian today. Now that we know He is Risen.

We should be fearful if we don’t tell it.

We should be overjoyed to tell it.

The one who died for my sins is still alive.

The psalmist said, Psalms 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

The Divine Encounter

The obedience of the women afforded them and encounter with the risen Jesus.

He met them.

He made it possible that not only did they see the empty tomb.

They also get to see the risen Savior.

Jesus gives them an eye witness account of Him being alive again.

Their response

They took hold of his feet.

This may be to ensure it wasnt a ghost.

They worshiped him.

When they knew it was a ghost

When they knew He was a hoax.

When they knew He was one whose word was true.

They did the only natural thing to do.

They bowed down before Him.

When you have a personal encounter with the Lord you will worship Him.

When He’s been a bridge over troubled water.

When He’s been a lawyer in the courtroom.

When He’s been doctor in the sick room.

When He’s been a light in a dark room.

When you know He’s alive and well.

You can’t help but to worship Him.

Since God fulfilled Jesus prediction to raise Him from the dead, we can count on Jesus promise that God will resurrect those of us who believe in Him from the dead.

We can look forward with great expectation, to that day when the Lord will bring with Him, those who have fallen asleep. That day when the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with the voice of an archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first, then those of us who are still alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

So we celebrate not the simple fact that He is alive. But that God raised Him who was dead back to life eternal and promises to do the same for those of us who believe in Him.

Amazing Grace!!!!!