…Easter Message 2016 continues.
Imagine having stood at the foot of the cross on Friday and watched Jesus writhe in pain, with blood dripping from his brow, and others standing near you shouting insults to your helpless friend and teacher. After what seemed like an eternity, but was really only a few hours, all the hopes and dreams you had as a follower and friend of Jesus appeared to have disappeared, for Jesus was dead.
You now flee the area in fear that you, because of your relationship with Jesus, will be the next to die on a cross. Other followers of Jesus join you in a secluded place and you learn that Jesus’ body was hurriedly removed from the cross and placed in an empty tomb before sunset, so the Jewish Sabbath could be properly observed.
What a long day Saturday was; but it was helpful to know that you would be able to go to the tomb on Sunday morning and perform the last loving deed for your Master, by properly preparing his body for final burial.
Early Sunday you and a small group of friends gather the necessary materials and walk to the tomb, on the way discussing how you will be able get into the tomb since it had been sealed. Imagine the fear and confusion when you find an empty tomb and hear an angel say, “He is not here.” It was only in the ensuing hours and days that you came to understand what that empty tomb really meant.
Several years later, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Christ has been raised from death as a guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:20, 56-58 TEV).
The fear that the first empty-tomb-visitors experienced has been transformed into joy. We no longer have to fear the grave, for Christ lives!
May this Easter be a day of joy as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. I hope many of you will b e able to join us for worship on March 27 at 11:00 a.m.
Happy Easter,
Rev. Martha A. Dominy
Listen to Easter Sunday message by Rev. Martha Dominy entitled “Signs Of Life”