“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 11824:1-3a
“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
Easter Sunday has arrived. The long (40 day long) journey to the cross and ultimately to the expectation of Resurrection Sunday. The promise of the gift of salvation. Life everlasting and love immeasurable and indestructible.
But are you standing outside the tomb or have you stepped inside?
In the lectionary reading from John’s Gospel, chapter 20:1-18, we read how after Mary Magdalene told the disciples that Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb, Peter and another disciple ran to see for the themselves. The unknown disciple got to the tomb first, but didn’t go in. He tried to peer into the dark tomb from the outside. Why didn’t he go in? What was he afraid of?
Mary Magdalene crying as she believes Jesus’ body to be stolen. She didn’t recognize Jesus standing with her. The disciple didn’t recognize the empty tomb as Scripture being fulfilled in Jesus rising from the dead.
When Peter arrives, he rushes straight in. Only once the first disciple stepped into the tomb did he believe the words spoken by Jesus in the scriptures of being raised from the dead. Peter was not afraid. The grave cloths testifying to the resurrection of his Teacher and Lord. Only after Mary Magdalene heard Jesus speak her name did she recognize Him.
Where have you found yourself this Easter morning? Are you standing staring into the tomb, unable to recognize the promised resurrection? Are you distracted by the things around you, that in your distress you don’t see Jesus or hear Him call your name? Did you step into the tomb this morning and rejoice in its emptiness?
It is our choice to live lives that display Christ’s resurrection. We have been on a journey where we have been faced with struggles, pain and hardship as we came face to face with the cost of the cross. However, we have persevered with faith, hope and trust. We are called to be a resurrection people.
Today, you are being called to be God’s witness and testify to the world to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He is risen indeed! Shalom
Gill