Resurrection Morning

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week,they went to the tomb at sunrise. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” 4 Looking up, they observed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; they were amazed and alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been resurrected! He is not here! See the place where they put Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.’” 8 So they went out and started running from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid. - Mark 16:1-8

Salvation is fulfilled here. You see His death wasn't enough. His death conquered our sins, but didn't bring eternal life. For us to have our sins forgiven AND experience eternal life He had to die AND be raised from the dead. 

So many people struggle with the reality that Christ's resurrection really happened. However there's more proof to support it than there is to reject it. Look in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, or Isaiah. These are just some of the most common areas. I'm not here to dispute Christ's life, death, or resurrection. I'm here to glorify Christ and thank Him for what He did for me on that cross and even more for coming back to life.

That old rugged cross isn't a negative symbol for me. Sure there was suffering, pain, anguish, but without it I'd be nothing. Without His love and mercy, life would be meaningless. If there was no love there would be no cross. If there was no cross then I wouldn't be here proclaiming His name. There'd be no point. BUT, He did come, He did show love (not only to me, but to the whole world, past, present, and future), He did take the cross for our sins, He did die in our place, and He did rise again on the third day! We love because He first loved us. 

Today focus on the cross, but more importantly focus on the empty tomb. The cross had promise, but the power was in the empty tomb. Praise Him today! Thank Him today! Share Him with someone today!

Bro. Austin