“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said”
Matthew 28:6
What a joy to gather in Christ’s name! I can’t imagine a better reason for us to meet than to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. For us as believers, everything comes down to this one central, historic event that we celebrate each Sunday! It is the source of our hope and life. Indeed, our faith stands or falls on the validity of Christ having risen bodily and alive from the dead! The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17 when writing to those who had questioned the possibility of someone rising from the dead, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Then he adds quickly, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,” (v 20) so that “Death is swallowed up in victory” (v 54) and we can sing with great joy, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (v 55)
For those who know the power of Jesus’ resurrection in their lives, the joy of this declaration knows no bounds! I pray that each of us can sing this truth with full and grateful hearts – hearts made glad by the knowledge that because of what Christ has done, death has been emptied of its power, sin has lost its grip, and Jesus is Lord of all! And if that’s not yet your song, why not ask someone seated near to share with you how you can come to know the joy of a life set free from death and sin by the power of Christ’s resurrection!
Then, for you who are in Christ by faith, let the Redeemed of the Lord say so! “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” Let your joy and the assurance that comes from knowing that “He is alive” be seen as you declare the wonder of His grace in salvation! And then rejoice with me as we look at John 20:1-18 this morning and consider “The Empty Tomb and the Risen Christ.”
Let us rejoicing in the Hope that comes from the Fact of the Risen Savior!
Pastor Scott Lee