“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’” – Luke 24: 1-6 NIV
My Thoughts:
Having bought burial spices and ointments, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary set out to go to the tomb on Sunday morning. As they walked into the garden they wondered who would roll back the stone for them from the doorway of the tomb, for they didn’t know a guard had been posted earlier, since the guards had already fled. Upon reaching the tomb, the two Marys were surprised to find the stone already rolled back. And when they looked inside they saw that the body of Jesus was no longer there. Instead, there was a young man, an angel, clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you” (Matt 28:5-7 ESV). Jesus Christ entered this world supernaturally through the Immaculate Conception and He left the world supernaturally as well, through His resurrection and ascension.
The women immediately go and tell Jesus’ disciples the good news. The disciples go to Galilee as Jesus had commanded. And they meet with the risen Jesus in a transformed body on several occasions over a 40-day period, in which He further teaches them about the kingdom of God. After the 40 days are up, Jesus ascends into heaven, into God’s dimension. Christ’s Passion Week began with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ends with His triumphal ascension into heaven.
Quote:
“If resurrections happened regularly, there would be nothing different about Jesus being raised from the dead. He would be one among many, just another statistic.… If [Jesus’ resurrection] is unique, then, by definition, there will be no analogous events. That makes it a lot harder to believe. It also makes it worth believing.” — Alister E. McGrath, What Was God Doing on the Cross?
Benediction:
God the Father, by whose glory Jesus Christ was raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
