After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² 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. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Resurrection

Everything rests on this, Jesus.  Did you rise from the dead?  We have four gospel accounts that say you did.  Contemporary evidence corroborates that people claimed you were raised.  The apostle Paul says you were raised, but still to believe this requires faith.   There is evidence and we need to make a decision.  I have decided that you did come back from the dead.  This changes everything – real living is possible.  Death does not have its sway.  There is no end to living.  There is nothing that can separate us from the source of life.  However, we need to choose you in order to live the life that you bring.  We need to live a life devoted to the will of The Father.  We need to die to the old life of corruption and death and wake up to the healthy relationship with The Father.  This relationship goes on forever.

Jesus, we can connect.  I am coming to the end of writing my devotionals as simply prayers.  I wouldn’t be able to connect with you if it weren’t for this resurrection.  However, I find that I am still resistant.  I don’t connect easily.  It is the path to wellness.  It is the way of wholeness.  However, I am so broken that I resist walking with you as a real person and not just an idea.  Concepts are easier to manage.  Ideas can be controlled.  People have wills.  People have freedom.  You bring the possibility of relationship, but I can not control you.  You have been raised with authority, but I don’t naturally like obeying people.  Help me to live in your presence and be grateful that the grave was not the end.  Help me to clasp your feet and worship you.

Questions

1. On what day did the women go to the tomb?
2. What did they find?
3. What is the significance of the resurrection?
4. How do you relate to the risen Lord?
5. How do you keep the fact of the resurrection fresh?