April 1, 2018 Easter!

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. “But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:1-8 NKJV)

            JESUS IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!  Today we celebrate that Jesus, who went from ”the virgin womb to the virgin tomb” rose from the dead and conquered death!  We celebrate the resurrection not just at Easter but the Christian Sabbath changed from Saturday to Sunday so we can celebrate Easter every week!

            But we can also celebrate Jesus made it possible for us to break out of our tomb of existence and step out into God’s light and life!  We no longer have to sit in the dark and just try to make it from day, to feel burdened by the weight of our sin, guilt and fear!  We can leave our burden in our tomb and rejoice in the light of God and our life in and with God!

            Throughout the Bible whenever anyone is visited by God or an angelic being they are afraid or as it says in this passage alarmed.  Then they are told “fear not” or as in this passage “Do not be alarmed.” 

            As Christians we are told to not stay at the tomb celebrating the resurrection but to go and tell others the Good News!  We must go quickly and in fear and wonder at the resurrection and that we have come out of our tomb and so can they!  

            But the most terrible part of this passage is:

“And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

We may condemn them but so many who say they are Christians do little better. We either sit at the tomb in celebration or if we are honest we have the faith to believe in the resurrection but not enough to share it!

            Receive the message of Easter and come out of your tomb and from the darkness and death into the light and life!  Be amazed and even fearful at the resurrection, but leave the tomb behind and go forth to share with the whole world that Easter can come into their existence and resurrect then to life!