 By James H. Cagle |
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28: 5-7 KJV).
The church has been celebrating Easter or the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave on the first day of the week for at least two-thousand years.
The foundation of Christianity is built on the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15: 17).
The proof of Jesus’ “Deity” depended on His resurrection from the dead. He declared at least five different times that he would be crucified and then buried and would rise from the dead on the third day (Matt. 12: 39-40; 20: 17-19; 26: 30-32; Luke 18: 31-33; John 2: 19-22). Paul says that Jesus’ resurrection was proof and demonstrated that He is the Son of God — “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1: 4).
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a biblical fact. All four Gospels tell us that Jesus “gave up the ghost (spirit)” (Mt. 27: 50; Mk. 15: 37; Lk. 23: 46; John 19: 30). It is certain that Jesus died and did not swoon on the cross and was later revived. The spear pierced His heart and blood and water poured out (Jn. 19: 34).
Roman soldiers watched and guarded Jesus’ tomb along with angels. The tomb was sealed. When on the third day Jesus rose from the dead the stone was rolled away, not in order that Jesus might come out but that men might look in and see that it was empty.
On the day of His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples five times (Jn. 20: 11-18; Mt. 28: 9-10; Lk. 24: 13-35; 36-48). Jesus showed Himself to 500 brethren at once (1 Cor. 15: 6). First Corinthians was written 27 years after Christ’ resurrection and the greater part of those 500 were still alive.
On Sunday, April 9, A.D. 30, the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea was found empty. The most thorough examinations have been carried out into the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and declared it flawless.
Clarence Larkin says, “The Standard of God’s Power in the Old Testament was the Exodus. The Standard of God’s Power in the New Testament is the Resurrection of Jesus.”
In observation as a testimony to the fact of Jesus’ resurrection the church meets on the “first Day of the Week” (Mt. 28: 1; Mk. 16: 9; Lk. 24: 13-15; Jn. 20: 1, 19; Acts 20: 7; Rev. 1: 10, 11).
“The Sabbath was given to Israel exclusively as a sign of the Mosaic Covenant (Ex. 31: 13; Ezek. 20: 12, 19-21). Nowhere in the Bible do we find God finding fault with any nation or people or the church, only the Jewish nation, for not observing the Sabbath. The fact then that the Church observes the ‘First Day of the Week,’ the day on which Jesus rose from the dead, as a day of rest and worship is a proof of the Resurrection of Jesus.”
Easter
The sun rose again on Easter morn’
As it did so very long ago.
And brought hope to those who met it
As the truth they came to know.
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The women were first to know the truth
As early to the tomb they went.
Where angels told then Christ was risen,
And to the others with this truth were sent.
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Then Peter and John ran to the tomb
And saw inside the linen and napkin.
Then knowing Christ lived they too believed
And knew He had triumphed over sin.
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Mary came to and wept for her Lord
And mistook Him for the gardener.
Then Jesus called to her by name
And her touching adoration deterred.
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Jesus met with the disciples that day
As they were hiding for fear of the Jews.
And when they saw Him they were glad
Then went out to tell the good news.
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Jesus joined two on the road to Emmaus
Who sadly spoke of what happened.
Then out of Moses and all the Prophets
He joyfully explained what happened.
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Jesus met to with doubting Thomas
And showed His scarred hands and feet.
Thomas then claimed Him as Lord and God
And his faith was then made complete.
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After Jesus’ resurrection
He met with all of His friends.
And before ascending up to the Father
He promised to be with them till the end.
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Jesus’ death paid the debt we owed
For our sins He suffered and died.
He conquered death and removed its sting
That we might live forever and never die.
James H. Cagle ©
