Posted on 04/04/2021 9:20:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
We live in a dark hour of human history.
The COVID-19 pandemic demands we distinguish between that which is essential and that which is not. With that being said, I am reminded that more than 2,000 years ago, a woman named Mary ran, while it was still dark, towards an empty tomb.
She ran not when things were pristine or perfect. She ran while things were still dark.
It's what we do in the darkest hour that truly defines us.
The darkness of depression cannot impede us from running towards the empty tomb of joy. The darkness of despair cannot hinder us from stepping into the empty tomb of hope. The darkness of destruction cannot obstruct us from looking into the empty tomb of destiny.
Are we willing to run towards the empty tomb?
Are we willing now, in the midst of this darkness, to run towards the reality that Jesus is Lord and Savior?
The day Mary, Peter and John ran towards the empty tomb and found nothing, you and I discovered everything. We discovered an empty place that filled our hearts, our families, our destinies, our purposes, our passions and our promise.
Hebrews 9:12 tells us, “With his own blood, not the blood of goats and calves, he entered on that third day the Most Holy Place once and for all time and secured our redemption forevermore.” It's not about what we do for God. It's about what God already did for us. He came down so we could get up. He defeated darkness so we could be light. He died so we can live. He said it is finished, so we can get started. He came out of the tomb, so we can come out of sin, failure and captivity and change the world around us.
Because he lives, what Jesus did cannot be undone.
If Jesus came out of the tomb, then we can come out of misery. We can come out of depression, anxiety, and fear. We can come out of panic. We can come out of addiction. We can come out of sin, temptation and the very pit of hell if Jesus came out of the tomb.
Let me remind you of Romans 8:11: “The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives inside of you.” Here is a word of the Lord for us this Easter: It's time for us to come out of our tombs.
Whatever we may be going through at this very hour, the Spirit of God is calling us out. He’s calling us into a new life. Because the blood of Jesus shed on the cross sealed our past, the empty tomb secures our future.
Once again, we are celebrating Jesus’ resurrection in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. And while it may be dark outside, the tomb is still empty.
Amen!
The darker outside the brighter the Light shines. He is Risen Indeed!
Not “more” rather “nearly.” Precise dating is disputed but most agree AD 30s. Pilate governed 26-36AD. Dating developed in the internet site The Star of Bethlehem would put the crucifixion at Friday, April 3 33AD Julian (April 1st if using Gregorian backdated to then) with death about 3pm local time. Accepting that, then 2000 years Gregorian (97 leap days/ 400 years) later falls on Friday, April 1, 2033. Running to the empty tomb would be the next Sunday morning. Mark your virtual calendars.
The Stone was miraculously moved, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.....the stone represented the separation, the barrier, between the living and the dead.
“Who shall roll us away the stone?”...The stone is rolled from the door of the tomb to show that Jesus has so effectually done the work that nothing can shut us up in the grave again. The grave has changed its character... it has been altogether annihilated, and put away as a prison-house, so that death for believers is no longer a punishment for sin.... but an entrance into rest....Our sins were the great stone which shut the mouth of the tomb and held us captive....Our sins are now for ever rolled away.
His heel was bruised by the old serpent, but on the resurrection morning Jesus crushed the dragon’s head.
“Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
Death in vain forbids his rise,
Christ hath open’d Paradise.
Lives again our glorious King!
‘Where, O death, is now thy sting?’
Once he died our souls to save;
‘Where’s thy victory, boasting grave?’
The Resurrection is a fact better attested than any event recorded in any history whether ancient or modern! Truly there is nothing but dismay for those who are on the evil side of that resurrection stone. But how great the joy which the resurrection brings to those who are on the right side of that stone!..
“The COVID-19 pandemic demands we distinguish between that which is essential and that which is not.” NO, it doesn’t! That is a made-up distinction, forced on Americans by tyrannical governments, and supported by sheep like the author of this inane sentence quoted above.
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