Here it is, in our Bible verses above, the first Sunday morning after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Apostles and other disciples had not understood all that Jesus had plainly taught them.
On this day, the women go down to the tomb to anoint His Body properly. He was buried quickly because the Sabbath was coming and bodies could not be moved on that day.
When they get there, they find an open tomb and no Body. At all of this, they were puzzled and did not know what to think.
God knew and expected this response. He needed it to be known that He was not there. A Divine messenger told them: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" (vss. 5,6). Then they went away believing that He was alive.
Christ later met two believers who were walking. After some discussion, during which they did not recognize Him, He revealed Who He was to them. Then He said, in Luke 24:25,26: "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?"
Here, Christ chided them for not believing the things that had been prophesied for more than 1,000 years. David plainly tells us in Psalm 17:10: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
In this verse, David declares that Christ will die, but will not be in the grave long enough for His Body to begin to decay. That takes four days. Christ also told His hearers that just like Jonah was in the whale's belly for three days and three nights, so would He be in the earth (Matthew 12:40). Even Christ's enemies remembered that Jesus had said He would come out of the grave on the third day. Speaking to Pilate to ask for the guards to watch the tomb, they said: "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again" (Matthew 27:63).
To the Lord Jesus Christ, now in a glorified Body, it was incredible that no one expected his resurrection! Even those who lived with Him for three years and saw His miracles and knew that He was fulfilling many other prophecies, did not believe it. How is it that this prophecy could not also be fulfilled?
This greatest of miracles was given to prove that the purpose for which He came had also been fulfilled. Do you know what that purpose was? John the Baptist spelled it out when he introduced Jesus. He said: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Now that Christ has risen from the dead – just like He said He would, every human needs to believe on Him for forgiveness, mercy, and salvation. Without it, going to Heaven will never happen.
This Easter Sunday, if you are not yet a believer, why not turn from sin now and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your many sins. The greatest sin is unbelief; but by trusting Him to save you when you ask, you will find that He will. God has promised it in this very well-known verse: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Those Who truly know Him today have great reason for singing that hymn: “Christ the Lord is risen today.” Hallelujah!
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Photo Credit: Unchanged; by Waiting For The Word, Flickr License
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Keywords: Jesus Christ, crucifixion, Tomb, empty, prophesied, resurrection, forgiveness, mercy, salvation, risen from the dead, believe, Luke 24 2, Easter, going to Heaven, save, everlasting life