“Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she came running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.’ So Peter came out with the other disciple and they went toward the tomb. They both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying. Yet he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went inside the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the cloth that was around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came first to the tomb, went in also. He saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside at the tomb weeping. As she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put Him.’ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have put Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Stop holding on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had said these things to her.” John 20:1-18 (Cf. John 20; Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; 1 Cor. 15)

The stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, and Jesus’ burial clothes were lying there, but Jesus was not there — He had risen from the dead!

He appeared to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb, to the other women as they ran back into Jerusalem, to Peter, to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to all the disciples on numerous occasions, and even to more than 500 brethren at once. Angels proclaimed His resurrection, and after numerous resurrection appearances, Jesus’ own followers finally came to understand and believe that Jesus really was alive — He had risen, as He said!

The Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 28:1-10) tells us: “At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his garments white as snow. The soldiers shook for fear of him and became like dead men. the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid. For I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord 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. Listen, I have told you.’ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. As they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Greetings!’ They came and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’ ”

In Mark 16:9-14, we read: “Now when Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Afterward, He appeared to the eleven as they sat at supper, and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.”

St. Paul speaks of the many eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 15: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and was seen by Cephas, and then by the twelve. Then He was seen by over five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present time, though some have passed away. Then He was seen by James and then by all the apostles. Last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born at the wrong time” (1 Cor. 15:3-7).

But what about you? Do you believe that Jesus rose bodily from the dead on the third day — that He really is alive? Like Jesus’ first disciples, we too may be “slow of heart to believe what the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25).

As the Scriptures say, “Thus it is written, and accordingly it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

The Scriptures foretold that Christ Jesus would suffer and die and bear the iniquity of us all and rise again in triumph and establish His everlasting kingdom (cf. Isa. 53; Ps. 22). Jesus truly did die for the sins of the whole world, and He did rise again from the dead on the third day!

So, why do we often live our lives as though He were not raised from the dead — as though He were still in the tomb?

Why do we go about our lives as though God were unwilling to forgive us? The Bible assures us that “Jesus our Lord … was delivered for our transgressions, and was raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:24,25). Jesus paid in full for our sins — “It is finished!” (John 19:30). He was raised so that we might look to Him in faith and be forgiven and counted righteous. God reaches out to us with open arms! He calls us to repent and offers us forgiveness and life through faith in the crucified and risen Christ Jesus!

Why do we live in fear of death? Jesus conquered death for us and rose again. The Scripture says, “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:20-23). We, as Christians, need not fear death since Christ has removed our sin and the condemnation of God’s law from us (cf. 1 Cor. 15:55-57; Heb. 2:14-17). And, indeed, when death comes to a believer, we do not need to “grieve as others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Why do we live our lives here in this world as though this is our home? “Our Lord Jesus Christ … gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age” (Gal. 1:3,4). He now prepares a place in His Father’s house for all who look to Him in faith, and He will soon come again and take all who believe to be with Him in heaven and dwell forever with Him there (cf. John 14:2-3). All that is here in this world will soon be burned up — only what is done as a fruit of faith in Christ will last (cf. 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Pet. 3:10-13).

Why do we live our lives as though we have nothing to do for Christ Jesus here in this world? He commanded His disciples: “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). He commanded us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18-20). Jesus rose from the dead! He won forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all, and He is coming again soon to judge this evil world! Shouldn’t we be about the work of our Lord and calling lost sinners to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus? Apart from Him, there is no salvation (cf. Acts 4:12)!

Finally, why do we live our lives as though Jesus is not with us? He has risen from the dead, ascended to the right hand of God the Father, and rules over and fills all things (cf. Eph. 1:15-23). As He promised, the risen Lord Jesus is with us always, “even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Savior, open up our minds to understand the Scriptures so that we might not only believe You have truly risen from the dead but also live our lives by faith in Your glorious resurrection and all this means for us now and forever. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

I know that my Redeemer lives, What comfort this sweet sentence gives
Author: Samuel Medley (1775)

1 I know that my Redeemer lives;
what comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my everlasting Head.

2 He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all-glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

3 He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above,
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

4 He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He live to hear my soul’s complaint.

5 He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

7 He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

8 He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”