“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is risen!”
—Luke 24:5
“He is risen,” that is the message of Easter and this year we need this message more than ever because it is in the empty tomb that we have our hope. If Jesus had died and stayed that way, then we would have no hope, but praise be to God that Jesus has been raised and that makes all the difference.
It starts with Good Friday where Jesus gave His life on the cross in obedience to the Father's will. 1 John 4 says, “This is love. Not that we loved God but that He loved us and Gave His Son as the substitute for our sin.”
It was on the cross that Jesus willingly suffered and died in our place. When he declared from the cross, “It is finished,” He declared that the price had been paid for us to be reconciled back to God. But it didn't end there! Three days later the Father raised Him from the grave in victory over sin and death.
The cross couldn't hold Him, the grave couldn't contain Him, and the burial clothes were discarded forever. Because we serve a risen Savior, we have confidence in His promise that we too, through faith in him, will one day be resurrected to eternal life.
As the great old Hymn says, “Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, life is worth the living just because he lives.”
Friends, if you are living through these days in fear and uncertainty, then Jesus wants you to know that He can set you free of those fears that hold you in bondage. Because we serve a risen Lord, we know that He is with us in the midst of any crisis. He assures us that He is in control of all things and ultimately, He has the keys that will unlock your grave and give you eternal life. Because Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our salvation all who believe in Him will not perish but receive eternal life. Jesus is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega and He is the only one that can set you free. He is rise!! He is risen indeed...alleluia...amen
