Thursday after Easter
Scripture: St. Luke 24:1-12 (NKJV)
24:1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'” 8 And they remembered His words.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
Devotion
Would God the Father accept the Son’s sacrifice on our behalf? The resurrection was the answer to that question. The resurrection is confirmation that the Father accepts the sacrifice of the Son and we are set free. There is no broken relationship between us and God. It has been healed. Jesus bridges the gap.
How can we be sure that what Jesus said in the Bible was true? Because it happened. Jesus rose from the grave “just as He said.” Jesus said He would rise from the grave, and it happened. And so, when He says that those who trust in Him will live forever, it will happen. When He tells us that our sins are forgiven, it is true, it has happened. Jesus is as good as His word, and that is great comfort for those who trust Him.
The resurrection is a seal of assurance to us that Jesus has accomplished what He said. But the resurrection means fear for those who do not trust in Christ. The Roman soldiers who knew nothing of Him were terrified, even to the point of unconsciousness. The chief priests and Pharisees were afraid of the resurrection and tried to cover it up. For all those who do not trust in Jesus, there is no hope in the resurrection, only fear. There is only fear because the one they rejected has become the victor. Nothing can stop Him. For those who believe in Him there is a holy fear, but one that is overcome by unspeakable joy. Their Lord has won. Their Lord is victorious. Their Lord has given them all hope, and joy, and peace. All this belongs to the Christian because all that Christ has He gives to us.
We pray: Lord, give us true hope, joy, and peace in eternal life; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
