He Is Risen!

The three synoptic Gospel accounts of the resurrection all contain a similar refrain given by the angels in the tomb as the women went to visit it that third day.  It's a refrain that Christians have been saying joyously to each other since the earliest days of the church.  And it goes something like this:

⁵But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen

-Matthew 28

⁶And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.

-Mark 16

⁵And 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? ⁶He is not here, but has risen.

-Luke 24

Hopefully the emboldened letters of the refrain helped because yes indeed Jesus of Nazareth, son of God and Son of Man is risen!  This truly is a miraculous thing.  This is what separates Christianity from all other world thoughts and religions, that the very God of the people would come down from on high and be afflicted with suffering, pain, temptation, the world's sin, and even death!  

Yet, death could not hold him in.  No, death cannot hold Him in the tomb.  Jesus took His throne that first Good Friday and fulfilled all things that the scriptures and the prophets had spoken concerning Him.  When Jesus cried, "It is finished," He meant it.  The atonement for sin and death had been defeated.  Yet even then it did not end there!  On the third day, the day of the LORD, Jesus came forth from the tomb triumphantly.  Who is this man that not even death could hold Him in?  And who are we to deserve such grace?

We are not to deserve any of it.  Our sins, our selfishness, our following of our own will made this necessary.  When people who do not share this joy with me ask me about why God would create knowing such pain would ensue I like to deflect the question to another question.  Why would God create knowing all along that the plan was to leave His heavenly throne and to take the form of man and to suffer death as the atoning sacrifice once and for all?  THAT is love.  

In a world full of broken hearts, sadness, and yes death, what greater hope is there to offer than the hope of the empty tomb on that first Easter morn?  There is none.  Some may say it is folly, for that is what it seems to them.  But for me, I know it to be the fulfillment of all things true and the greatest event in history.  It is not a crutch, because a crutch helps the lame.  For we are no longer lame having been baptized into the death and yes the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In a world full of war and hunger there is no better message than the message that God is right there ever present in the pain and suffering.  Yahweh is not some impersonal god looking to just set up shop and leave things be.  Nor is Yahweh a god who will make a quick fix and then retreat back after the job has been done.  No, Yahweh is the God who created knowing this would be the course of action and He is the God who fixed things or made them new and continues to reside among His people.  God does not fix and then leave, God remains, and He remains active.  

The cross saved us, and the empty tomb confirms that and gives us a glorious hope.  For all the problems and sin in the world today none can ever drown out the wondrous and joyous proclamation that "He is risen! He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!"  Hallelujah, Praise Yah, Praise Yahweh.  God has conquered the grave, and we get to spread that news and love to a world in need.  Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!