But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:1-6 ESV
He Is Risen!
When you think about Monday, Thursday, or Good Friday, or the day in between, or Easter, it’s easy to think this is all about Jesus. But is it? Hebrews 12 speaks to His motivation:
Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
So, what was the joy? I can think of four things. I’m sure there are more: 1) He saw the joy for His obedience; 2) He saw the joy for the glory it brought His Father; 3) He saw the joy of being seated with His Father; and 4) He saw the joy in raising us from the dead. Speaking of being risen:
Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (2 Cor 4:14 ESV)
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. (1 Cor 6:14 ESV)
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. (Colossians 2:12 NLT)
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:4-5 ESV)
What happens to us because He is risen? Simply put, because He is risen, we are risen. These verses are all about our relationship with Him. But what must we do to have this relationship with Him, to be raised with Him?
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NIV)
So, what does your mouth declare? What does your heart believe? He is risen! You can be too.
Read Yesterday’s Blog About the Day in Between Good Friday and Easter
