After our Lord was crucified, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (the mother of James and Joseph) went to the tomb of Jesus, to anoint the body of Jesus for burial. There was a great earthquake that occurred, and an angel of the Lord came from heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. The guards who kept watch over the tomb were frightened and completely disabled by the sight.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” They left the scene quickly, filled with both fear and great joy, to tell the disciples, and on the way, met Jesus himself, who greeted them, and told them not to be afraid, but go and tell his disciples to go to Galilee, where they would see him.

The simple truth of the ages, the great confession of our faith in the Lord, is that Jesus of Nazareth is no longer in Joseph’s borrowed tomb. He is risen, just as he said. The Lamb who was slain is now alive forevermore, for life, for salvation, and for peace.

As the women quickly left the tomb scene, they were filled with both fear and great joy, and encountered the Lord Jesus himself, who greeted them. Jesus told them not to be afraid but to go and tell his disciples he would see them in Galilee.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you confirmed your resurrection with the women directly by appearing to them after you rose. You gave them proof you were alive, and it encouraged their hearts. Amen.

“[T]he wonder of God demands our worship of Him. God is supernatural; He was not created. He was the Cause; we, the effect. God is spirit, so He cannot be contained in or restricted by any manmade edifice. He is free to move as He wills and dwell where He chooses. And He chooses to dwell with us, His created. This should arouse the human heart to praise Him.”

~ Vernon Whaley, Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God’s Call. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009. Location 12.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Messiah’s Suffering and Glory, Luke 24.13-35

Book Reading
Whaley, Called to Worship

Our Corporate Disciplines
Day Retreat: Friday, April 14, 2023