After JESUS’ death His body was hastily placed in a tomb on
Friday afternoon without proper preparation with spices and ointments, as is
the Jewish custom for burial. No work could be done on the Sabbath, so the task
had to be postponed until Sunday. But GOD had a different plan.
Resurrection Sunday
JESUS’ mother, and other women followers of His ministry, go
to the tomb at dawn to anoint Him with spices for burial and find the tomb empty.
Instead they are met by angels in dazzling white clothes who told them that JESUS
was risen and they should go and tell His disciples. The women are
understandably frightened and puzzled by these events but they leave.
- …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….” Matthew 28:1-8
JESUS
Himself appears to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb. She did not recognize Him
at first until Jesus spoke to her.
- Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” John 20:15-18
JESUS joins two disciples later in the day as they were walking
to a village called Emmaus. They were discussing events surrounding His death
and their disappointment that the one who they believed to be the Messiah come
to rescue the Jewish people from oppression by Rome had been crucified. They
did not recognize JESUS as He walked along with them for miles explaining from
the scriptures why JESUS had to die. It wasn’t until He broke and blessed the
bread during supper with them that they knew Him.
- When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. Luke 24:13-35
JESUS also appears to the apostles that same Sunday evening.
Most of them were together in a locked room because they were afraid that the
religious leaders would crucify them next. Suddenly, JESUS appeared among them.
At first the apostles thought He was a ghost and were afraid until He showed
them the scars from the nails that pierced His hands and feet. And JESUS ate
with them and explained the meaning of His death and resurrection.
- Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet... They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. … Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.... Luke 24: 36-49
JESUS shows up a second time in the locked room where the
apostles are still hiding out. The apostle Thomas wasn’t there for the first
visit and doubted the others’ story but now he had proof and he believed.
- Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after He was resurrected
from the dead on that Sunday morning (Acts 1:3). He appeared again to the
apostles several times and also to more than 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Before He ascended into heaven to return to the Father, JESUS blessed the
disciples.
- And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:50-52
Christians celebrate the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from
the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion, traditionally on Easter
Sunday. This celebration is the fulfillment of the Isaiah 53 prophecy of the
Messiah who would be persecuted, die for our sins, and rise on the third day.
A child of GOD ought to remember the resurrection of JESUS
daily – it is how we can renew our hope that we do have victory over
sin.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, ...these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John
20:30-31
Scripture references from Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24,
John 20-21
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD, Father and LORD, we lift our hearts
in awe, adoration and praise. We thank YOU that YOU loved the world so much, that
you gave your ONE and only SON so we may be called your children too. Father,
help us to live each and every day in the joy of YOUR righteousness and the grace
through which we received it. May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving
for YOUR inexpressible love and sacrifice so we can live godly lives daily and
never grieve YOUR Holy Spirit. Help us to use every opportunity we get to share
the good news of JESUS CHRIST and never be intimidated or ashamed; YOU have
done great things for us and we are filled with JOY!! To YOU belong all dominion,
all power and all glory, for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the
matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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