Morning. Dawn. The beginning of a new week. The sun has just begun its rise, illuminating the treetops with its warmth. There is still a chill of night in the air, but someone has already gotten up. Women are walking along the road. They walk slowly and whisper about something. You can hear one of them asking: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” When people get up early and go to work, this is understandable, but why go so early to visit someone who is already buried? Most likely, something unforeseen happened, since such a need arose.
Here they are at the coffin. The stone with which the tomb was closed has been rolled away. Numb warriors stand nearby. Something unusual definitely happened here. The women hastily entered the coffin and also became numb. The tomb is empty. But they themselves saw how the body of their Lord was laid there on Friday evening. Even the shrouds in which He was wrapped lie in the place where they laid Him. But where is Jesus Himself?
In the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 28 we read:
“After the Sabbath had passed, at dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord, who came down from heaven, came and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it; his appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow; Frightened by him, those guarding them trembled and became as if they were dead; The angel, turning his speech to the women, said: Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus crucified; He is not here – He has risen, as He said.Come, see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly, tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and is ahead of you in Galilee; you will see Him there. Behold, I have told you.”(Matthew 28:1-7)
What is the essence of Easter? What does the resurrection of Christ have to do with me today?
Something is constantly changing in our lives. And there will always be night before the dawn. The night when you struggle with fears and obsessive thoughts. Everyone has these thoughts and fears, and sometimes even the most wonderful sunrise cannot drive away these fears.
The women walked to the coffin. They were not just going to look again at the dead hopes, they were going to pay tribute to the One Whom they valued very much. To the One who gave so many kind words and restored hope to those who had lost it long ago. They carried incense to anoint His body and thus once again thank Him for everything He did for them during His life.
They were afraid. They were afraid that the soldiers would drive them away from the tomb. They were afraid that no one would want to roll away the stone. After all, why would Roman soldiers help some Jewish women? Why do they need these unnecessary problems?
What fears do you have today? What are you afraid of? The truth is that everyone is afraid. Some people talk about it honestly, while others hide it, but at the same time they are also afraid of death, afraid of getting sick, afraid of losing their job or a loved one. The women were afraid, but at the same time they met their fears. God does not condemn you and me. The good news is that the stone that weighs you down can be rolled away. Even if you can’t handle it yourself. Even if people can’t or won’t help you. Go out today to meet the dawn and the Lord will come to meet you.
God sent an Angel who rolled away the stone from the tomb.
TheTruth is that your stone is not heavy for God. Yes, it is too heavy for you, but it is light for the One who created it
This is the first truth I wanted to share today.
What is impossible for you and me is possible for God! This is the miracle of the Resurrection. He is not in the grave to help you and me today!
To the question: “Who will roll away the stone for us?” – God already has the answer.
You will say, okay, I don’t mind God helping me. I’m very much for it when it comes to my fears and worries. But why did Jesus need to die and then come to life on the third day? Couldn’t we have solved the problem of our sin in some other way?
This is a good question. A question that can help us see another side of the Resurrection.
The angel who appeared to the women said: “He is not here – He has risen…” The tomb remained in place. The shroud in which Jesus was wrapped remained in the tomb. The only one who was not there was Christ Himself.
Why did Jesus leave the tomb? In order to reveal to us another important truth. The reality of the resurrection in Him.
In chapter 24 of Luke’s Gospel we read:
“And when they were afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them:Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here: He is risen;Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”(Luke 24:5-7)
The living cannot stay for long where the dead lie. Fear runs away where there is hope. Faith casts out doubt and hopelessness. If you are looking for Christ, then He is not in the tomb – He has risen. He rose again so that you and I could have salvation and the gift of eternal life. He rose again to snatch the sting of death and shame hell and the devil.
“And he said to them, “This is what I spoke to you about while I was still with you, that everything that was written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of this.”(Luke 24:44-48)
God not only promised to do something about our sin, He gave His only Son to destroy the power of sin and the devil in our lives. His word came true. All the prophecies came true. Remember what God told you. If you can remember God’s promises, you can be sure that God has not forgotten them either.
TheResurrection is the promise of Christ. A promise to everyone who will accept Him as their Lord and Savior
This is the second truth I wanted to share today. We read about her in the Gospel of John in chapter 11:
“Jesus said to her:I am the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?(John 11:25-26)
Do you believe in the words of Christ today? Do you believe that it was for you that He went to the cross, died and then rose again? Do you believe this? If yes. Then this is a promise for you. If not. Then perhaps you should still think about it today.
Not all promises are worth believing. But Christ’s promises are always worth believing!
In conclusion, I’d like to remind you once again of two truths we reflected on today:
Your stone is not heavy for God. It is too heavy for you, but it is light for the One who created it.
The resurrection is Christ’s promise. A promise to everyone who accepts Him as their Lord and Savior.
