He is Risen

He is Risen

Matthew 28:5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you

are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. (6) He is not here; he has risen, just as he

said. Come and see the place where he lay. (NIV)

          Jesus had died. He had done what he had come to do. Because the religious leaders did not want any bodies hanging
on the cross because of the Sabbath, they had requested that the bodies be taken down. It was the common practice that
when criminals were taken down from the cross, their legs would be broken to prevent escape in the event they were not dead.

          However, it had been prophesied that no bone in Jesus body would be broken. When the soldiers came to where Jesus was, they saw that he had already died. There was no need to break his bones. As a way of certainty, a soldier pierced his side and out came the separation of blood and water as a sure sign of death.

          Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Christ, and Nicodemus, after requesting permission to remove Jesus’ body, carried him to Joseph’s tomb, which had never been used. They purchased spices and ointments to put on Jesus’ body and wrapped him in cloth which was their custom. The women who had followed also went to prepare spices, but were unable to put them on him because the Sabbath had come and they were not allowed to do so by law.

          Jesus’ tomb was then placed on guard with soldiers out front because the religious leaders feared that someone would steal his body and claim that he had risen. They remembered that Jesus had foretold that he would rise again in 3 days. So they had requested that Pilate’s soldiers guard the tomb until the 3 days were over.

          The next morning, after the Sabbath had ended, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb where Jesus had been laid. They wanted to take their spices and ornaments to anoint his body. However, there had been a great earthquake. The angel of the Lord had rolled the stone away. At the sight of the angels, the guards were so frightened that they fell as if they were dead. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw two angels sitting where Jesus had been buried, they suspected that someone had stolen his body. However, the angels told them that Jesus was not there because he had risen. At this news, ran and told the disciples.

          The cloth of death no longer held Jesus. The stone had been rolled away. Jesus had conquered the keys to both death and hell. The earth no longer held his lifeless body. Jesus had been victorious over death. He had saved mankind from their sins. Man was no longer bound because of sin. Jesus had fulfilled the plan of redemption. The world was no longer without hope. Jesus had died on Black Friday, but had risen early Sunday Morning. Jesus Was ALIVE!

Prayer of Salvation

If you have not accepted Jesus as your personal

Lord and Savior, I pray that you accept Him

today. Please read the following prayer and

invite Jesus into your heart.

Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I ask that

you forgive me of the sins that I have

done. I know that You are the Son of the

Living God. You died, rose, and is now

seated at the right hand of the Father. I

ask t-hat you come into my heart today.

Forever live in me and work through me.

In your name I pray, amen.