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320. VICTORY! The Resurrection

Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-13
Key Verse: "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He is risen!  He is not hear.  See the place where they laid Him."
Mark 16:6

Wouldn't you think that, of all the events in the Bible, this one, the most crucial one, the gospel writers would have conferred and compared notes and tried to get an accurate account of just what happened?  Was there one angel or two?  Was Mary alone or was she with other women, and which women at that?  Did they touch His feet and worship Him, or did Mary begin to touch Him and Jesus stopped her?  Was there an earthquake?  Why don't all four gospels at least mention that?  Why did the women bring more spices?  Didn't Joseph of Aramathea and Nicodemus take care of that preparation while they were placing Him in the tomb?  Did the women leave in fear and tell no one or run to the disciples who still didn't believe them?  Actually, the lack of clarity tells of the excitement around the event.  The main fact is that Christ has risen. He has risen indeed!

Today, the commemoration of this event is accompanied with much celebration.  We use this day as an excuse to buy new clothes, eat lots of rich, fun food, and fill our worship with joyous, celebratory music.  Our celebration is a far cry from how those who actually lived the day experienced it.

Most of those who would have rejoiced at the news of Christ's resurrection were still hiding in fear.  Probably part of the reason that the women first came to the tomb at dawn was that the light would still be poor and there was less chance of being seen.  They were still sad and in deep mourning.  The women were just going to finish the job of proper burial that couldn't be finished on the day of the crucifixion because of the strict adherence of Sabbath rules.  They weren't headed to a sunrise service with a song in their hearts.  They trudged along in mourning.

Even at the tomb, there wasn't instant belief and recognition.  Everything didn't click into place as an "aha moment."  For the women, there was probably bewilderment on top of their grief.  The body was gone and some strange man, or men were saying, "He's not here for He has risen!"  But, what exactly did that mean?  For them, it would be like talking about the wonders of electricity or the airplane.  The angels' message was out of their comprehension.  No one rises from the dead!  Sure, some day all may rise from the dead, but just one man, alone?  How could that even be possible?

When the disciples heard the news, they were just as confused.  "They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense."  (Luke 24:11)  Can you blame them?

In Luke, only Peter went to check out the situation. But in the gospel of John it's recorded that he, John, went with Peter and actually got there first, but didn't go in. Peter did that first, then John. Only after they saw the tomb, does John say that, He, at least, believed, but there still wasn't comprehension.

As dawn approaches with just a sliver of light on the horizon, so was the resurrection. Most people knew nothing of it just as most do not notice when that first line of light appears for a new day. No angels sang to announce the Lord's victory over death as they had sung to announce His birth. God's whole story began with small beginnings. I mentioned that way back on day four of our devotional calendar, when we noted that God's plan of redemption was set in motion, when one man, Abram, left his comfort zone and began an adventure with God in a new land, the land of Canaan.

 The resurrection, God's victory over death was quiet and unseen. Yet, when exactly does the sprout of that first fruit appear? Is it noticed? "No," but its harvest is unmistakable. So it was on that day, almost unnoticed beginning, but with unmistakable results! The Lamb is risen. "To God be the glory!  Amen!"

Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today 
Kids version: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Grand version: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

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