March 31, 2023

Matthew 27:57-28:10 (HCSB)
57 When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. 59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen,        60 and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.  62 The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, "Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, He said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first." 65 "You have a guard [of soldiers]," Pilate told them. "Go and make it as secure as you know how." 66 Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard. 1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. 5 But the angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you." 8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, "Good morning!" They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus told them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there."

Joel Robertson
“Glory! Glory! Hope is alive/ And lifted up, before your eyes/ Waking all the world, open gates to paradise/ Now it’s done/ Life has come/ Death has died/ Easter glory, what an ending to the story/ My Son, arise!” Easter by Theocracy.  The door to Life is through the death of Jesus, it is through the empty tomb. Life through death. What Satan desires for us all, Jesus turns it up on its head and uses it to secure life. How Jesus must have smiled as He walked out of that tomb! The inexpressible joy that Jesus must have felt as the new creation was starting. He has played a cosmic joke on Satan, the Divine Comedy. Heed the words of Jesus, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell...”. Hope is alive!