He is risen!
It's Easter morning, before dawn. Everyone is still sleeping, and with the chirps of birds outside providing me with background music, I just finished reading the account of the first Easter morning. Before my thoughts shift gears to the ham I am going to prepare and my house that needs cleaned for our celebration (which, by the way looks like a tornado went through it at this moment) I just want to jump on here and share with you a verse that my thoughts and reflections centered on much of this lent season.
Just to give you a little context, after Jesus was declared dead on the cross, a disciple that followed Him in secret, Joseph from Arimathea, requested that His body be entrusted to him. Pilate gave the order, and Joseph took His battered body, wrapped it in a clean cloth, and then laid Him in his own tomb and then rolled a stone at the entrance. I'd imagine that Joseph walked away from the tomb with a saddened sense of closure. The chief priests and Pharisees, on the other hand, experienced the opposite, as unrest and a sense of unfinished business plagued them as they approached Pilate with a concern. After referring to Jesus as a deceiver, they quoted something Jesus said that no doubt haunted them, "After three days, I will rise again" (Mt. 27:63). They asked Pilate to make the tomb secure for the next three days to prevent the disciples from coming and stealing His body - telling others that He had risen. (v. 64)
Here is Pilate's response: "Take a guard', Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard" (Mt. 27:65).
The guards took every measure they could think of to prevent Jesus' prophesy from being fulfilled. Every resource available to them they utilized - the most sophisticated of measures at their disposal, they made the tomb as secure as they knew how.
Death could not keep Him. The human mind could not outwit Him. His plan untouchable; His will unalterable. FOREVERMORE. Our God made the heavens and the Earth - all that is seen and unseen. He rules over what He creates - forevermore. He will one day return for His own, and He is preparing a place for His people. He is the one who was, who is, and is to come, and He reigns victorious on His throne. Sovereign, and holy... Full of grace and truth, our God reigns in all the Earth - forevermore. He is coming again, and no one or no thing can thwart His plan to consummate His kingdom. Thank God His plan will always and forever trump our attempts to control things! That His lavish, unrelenting love has been extended to us - unworthy as we are. That He has saved us from the death we all deserve... That He is not only mighty to save - but that He is willing to save! Oh praise the name of Jesus!
"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... 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 is risen, just as He said" (Mt. 28:2,5).
Just to give you a little context, after Jesus was declared dead on the cross, a disciple that followed Him in secret, Joseph from Arimathea, requested that His body be entrusted to him. Pilate gave the order, and Joseph took His battered body, wrapped it in a clean cloth, and then laid Him in his own tomb and then rolled a stone at the entrance. I'd imagine that Joseph walked away from the tomb with a saddened sense of closure. The chief priests and Pharisees, on the other hand, experienced the opposite, as unrest and a sense of unfinished business plagued them as they approached Pilate with a concern. After referring to Jesus as a deceiver, they quoted something Jesus said that no doubt haunted them, "After three days, I will rise again" (Mt. 27:63). They asked Pilate to make the tomb secure for the next three days to prevent the disciples from coming and stealing His body - telling others that He had risen. (v. 64)
Here is Pilate's response: "Take a guard', Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard" (Mt. 27:65).
The guards took every measure they could think of to prevent Jesus' prophesy from being fulfilled. Every resource available to them they utilized - the most sophisticated of measures at their disposal, they made the tomb as secure as they knew how.
Death could not keep Him. The human mind could not outwit Him. His plan untouchable; His will unalterable. FOREVERMORE. Our God made the heavens and the Earth - all that is seen and unseen. He rules over what He creates - forevermore. He will one day return for His own, and He is preparing a place for His people. He is the one who was, who is, and is to come, and He reigns victorious on His throne. Sovereign, and holy... Full of grace and truth, our God reigns in all the Earth - forevermore. He is coming again, and no one or no thing can thwart His plan to consummate His kingdom. Thank God His plan will always and forever trump our attempts to control things! That His lavish, unrelenting love has been extended to us - unworthy as we are. That He has saved us from the death we all deserve... That He is not only mighty to save - but that He is willing to save! Oh praise the name of Jesus!
"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... 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 is risen, just as He said" (Mt. 28:2,5).
posted by Jennifer at
3:40 AM
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