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CHRIST IS RISEN! HALLELUJAH!
This good news known around the world today is just as
joyful as it was when spread from disciple to disciple
on that first Easter morning. Matthew captures some of
the excitement of this day of days:
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
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 blinding light, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became
like dead men."
"And very early in the morning, the first day of the week,
they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone
from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw
that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting
on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they
were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: ye
seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen;
he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth
before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
"And the angel answered and said unto the women,
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell his disciples
that he is risen from the dead;
and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee;
there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you."
"Then some of the disciples went to the tomb to see what had
happened to their friend and leader.
When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.'"
"So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received
up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. And they went
forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
The women came to the tomb expecting to find a dead friend.
Instead, they were found by the living Jesus. Their hearts
were filled with sorrowful memories of him dying in weakness.
And Christ delighted to surprise them with his Resurrection
strength and joy. They believed that Jesus had been defeated
by Satan and by death. Instead, he showed them that he had
conquered both. In the grave, God touched him. He burst
through the limitations of his humanity and revealed himself
for who he was: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords;
the victorious one; the Savior of the world. And so with
confidence, we testify:
I値l tell the world that I知 a Christian.
This beautiful background set is from In His Image. Use the above link to visit there.
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