There
was a violent earthquake, for an angel
of
the Lord came down from heaven and, going
to
the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His
appearance
was like lightening, and his clothes were
white
as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that
they
shook and became like dead men. The angel said
to
the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you
are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here;
he
has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place
where
he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He
has
risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into
Galilee.
There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Matthew 28:2-7 NIV
This morning I sit on the edge of my bed
awaiting the Easter sunrise. While I do not expect to physically see an angel
sitting on the stone rolled away from the empty tomb, the lens of my heart is
zoomed into the tomb’s entrance, the folded grave clothes and the message of
our Risen Savior.
Over the past year I have been afraid as I
watched cancer ravage my baby sister’s life. But the message of the empty tomb
is “Do Not be afraid.”
The message of the empty tomb is joy
unspeakable. He is risen! The message of the empty tomb is a Living Savior, not
a dead God. He is risen! The message of the empty tomb is that all are invited
to come and see. He is risen! The message of the empty tomb is that we are to
go and tell others. He is risen!
God is not dead! Christ is not buried! He
is raised just as He promised. Therefore, I can trust Him. I can believe that
He will accomplish everything He has promised. I can live in joyous expectation
of the day my eyes will behold Him face to face.
So I invite you this morning, you who may
never have looked into the empty tomb, you who may be walking in fear of the
future, you who have been shattered by the cares of this life… I invite you to
come and see the empty tomb and meet the risen Savior.
His name is Jesus. He waits for you with
outstretched arms. Come and see—then go and tell. He is risen!
©Joyce
Powell
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