“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said” Matthew 28:6 These glorious words, spoken by an angel, brought fear and great joy to those who heard them. The previous weeks must have been a blur of activity to them. They had seen their Messiah, the Lord Jesus, raise Lazarus from the dead, enter triumphantly into Jerusalem as their King, and then be betrayed, arrested, beaten, and hung on a cross to die between two criminals. They had thought He was the One who would deliver them from their enemies and lead them into His kingdom. Now, early in the morning, they were visiting His tomb. The news that He was alive should not have surprised them. He foretold His crucifixion and resurrection many times. In fact, time after time, He told them that He would go to Jerusalem, die, and rise again (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19). The importance of His resurrection is as great as that of His death. Jesus “was delivered [into death] for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Through His death the penalty was paid for our sins. Through His resurrection we are given a living hope—the proof that His promises are true (1 Peter 1:3-5). Without a living Savior, there is no hope. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But He lives! “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18). Because of His resurrection, Jesus lives as the hope and glory of the believer and the Judge of the unbeliever. Have you turned to God in repentance, putting your faith in Jesus Christ —claiming His gift of eternal life? “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). If you have not, come to Him right now. Coming to Jesus means believing that He alone is able and willing to be your personal Savior and Lord: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). If you have trusted the living Savior, consider this: “He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). He has died for you and risen again to raise you from spiritual death to spiritual life. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3). Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26). Read God’s word, the Bible. See what great things the living Lord has done for you!
