On the third day, the unthinkable happened. After being completely dead buried in a tomb, Jesus is now walking around in flesh and breathing once again – God is alive! The Son of God has risen from the dead – a feat which no one else has been able to accomplish throughout the history.
It was on this day when mourning and sorrow turned into joy and dancing for everyone, for death has been defeated and vanquished forever. This celebration began with Mary Magdalene’s declaration, “I have seen the Lord!” Ever since that day, millions of Christians have gathered to celebrate this monumental event in human history and once again declare, “God is alive, and I have seen Him in my own life!”
Let the Alleluias ring once again, for Christ is risen this morning and God is alive forever! Let the Alleluias ring once again, for the power of sin, death, and darkness has been defeated forever! Let the Alleluias ring once again, for we are able to experience God’s love, grace, and mercy and have a personal relationship with Him, which are made possible only by Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death and sin!
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The Resurrection
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Source: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Jn 20:1–18). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
