The Resurrrected Christ

The first fifteen verses of Matthew 28 present in very specific detail the events surrounding the Resurrection of Jesus on that wonderful first day of the week.  Matthew says, "After the Sabbath, at dawn..."(vs. 1), the first Lord’s Day.  I cannot imagine the emotions felt by those women who went to the tomb.  Obviously, there was a sense of confusion and great sadness...however, that sadness quickly turned to wonder and amazement.  They were invited by an angel to enter the tomb and examine it contents.  What was found in the tomb were the strips of linen and the face cloth, accompanied by the declaration from the angel, "...go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead" (vs. 7).

The empty burial cloths that had once bound Jesus' body and lay there on that stone bench are not unlike an empty cocoon. Once bound to this earth in the form of a caterpillar, a beautiful butterfly has emerged and flown away.  Jesus, in His physical body was bound to this earth but following His death, burial and resurrection, the beauty of His glory, which He sought so much as voiced in His prayer to the Father in John 17:1, has left the cloths and grave behind.  Mark's record of the Resurrection Day tells us of the angel’s words: “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has 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 to Galilee.” (Mark 16:6-7)

The victory that we have over this life is accomplished in that glorious day...the day of Resurrection.  When the angel declared to the women at the grave that “Jesus was risen just as He said,” every one of us who would believe in Him as God’s sacrifice for Sin became recipients of God’s promise of eternal life with Him. (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 28; 3:5, 12, 21).

To those of us who believe on the Name of Jesus, the significance of the Resurrection:

1. Proves that Jesus is the Son of God

2. Verifies that the Word of God is true

3. Assures our future resurrection

4. Proof of a future judgment for those who reject Christ

5. Basis for Christ’s heavenly priesthood interceding for us

6. Gives power for Christian living

7. Assures our future inheritance – a living hope making possible hopeful living

When the followers of the Lord gathered that first Lord’s Day, they were discouraged and defeated.  However, when God’s people gather today on the Lord’s Day, we bear witness that Jesus is alive, is with the Father in heaven, and is coming again to call us home. *

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* Wiersbe, Warren, “Be Loyal”, The King’s Victory (chp. 26), pg. 265-66