He is Risen!

"But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN, AS HE SAID. COME, SEE the place where He lay." (Mt. 28:5-6)

"Do not be afraid"--His resurrection removes all fear of sin and death. "He has risen"--our Savior is alive and active and always always always with us. "As He said"--every word God speaks is true, and if He says it, it will always always always come to pass. "Come, see"--He invites us daily to come and see and know His greatness and His glory and His provision for us, His daily manna for us to meet our most mundane weaknesses and most desperate needs.

He is risen! O might we never ever get over the wonder of those three most powerful words in this universe! He is risen--there is hope. He is risen--there is eternal, abundant life. He is risen--death is not the end but the beginning. He is risen--you are never alone. He is risen--He is trustworthy and true. He is risen--He is changeless and eternal and omnipotent and omniscient. He is risen--He can do all things... and through Him who strengthens us we can do all things. He is risen--He understands our sorrow and He is here with us right now in the midst of it. He is risen--He conquered our sin and shame, so hand it to Him. He is risen--victory forever: His song and our song. He is risen--He is Redeemer and Savior. Our Savior. Your Savior.

And He makes all things NEW.

"Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the Resurrection." (Watchman Nee)

Hand Him your old history and rejoice in your new history that begins at the empty tomb. The stone is rolled away. And He is not there--HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

To God, our Savior, our Redeemer, be all the glory forever and ever and ever! Amen.