April 17, 2025 - Can you by an eye of faith visualize what it would have been like to be one of the first people to visit the empty tomb of the risen Lord on the first day of the week? I have tried to imagine how Mary Magdalene and the others must have felt early on that Sunday morning. With the events that had transpired on Friday and Saturday, you know they were weary and dreary due to their lack of sleep. You know their hearts had been crushed by the tragedy of Calvary. The great suffering of their Teacher, Deliverer, Healer and Friend was fresh in their minds. The horrific scenes of Friday were emblazoned on their hearts.
Can you see them rising early that Sunday morning, approaching the tomb where Jesus had been buried? His brutal treatment at the hands of the Romans was fresh in their mind. They could still hear the cracking of the whip and the flowing of His blood. They could feel the damp, foreboding darkness that covered the earth as it convulsed at the sight of God’s son being murdered.
Yet, they came to the tomb and they found it empty. An angel said to them, “He is not here, for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6)
Because the tomb was empty that Sunday morning, we have hope beyond this life. Paul would write, “thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57)
It’s something to think about... tbp
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