He Has Risen!
Scripture Reading — Matthew 28:1-8
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”
Matthew 28:6
Often when God makes mind-boggling new beginnings, there are no human eyes and ears present to witness the event. When God created the heavens and the earth, and when he created Adam and Eve, there were no human witnesses.
This was also true for the new beginning marked by Jesus’ miraculous resurrection. All we can do with these huge events is to believe and receive. Easter must be believed to be received. The miracle of being raised to new life is given to those who believe in Jesus. It is said that seeing is believing. Actually, believing is seeing.
All who believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9). Easter is the evidence that death will not be able to hold down believers any more than it was able to hold down Jesus.
Easter trips up the mind. It staggers the imagination. It flies in the face of all our experience. It contradicts the laws of nature. It goes against the grain of the brain. Resurrection defies all we have ever seen or known.
But of course! That’s the whole point of Easter!
How else could Easter be good news for a fallen, sin-seared, grave-filled world?
If Easter were not “out of this world,” what would there be to celebrate?
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
“Love’s redeeming work is done … ! Fought the fight, the battle won … ! Death in vain forbids him rise … ! Christ has opened paradise!” Thank you Spirit, Father, Son. Amen.
About the author — Gordon Pols
Rev. Gordon Pols and his wife, Ann, have two married children and two grandchildren. After serving four congregations in Western and Central Canada, Rev. Pols retired from active ministry in 2007. He is currently doing parttime pastoral work with West End Christian Reformed Church, Edmonton, Alberta. He also works parttime for Crossroad Bible Institute, promoting a Bible study correspondence course for prison inmates.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!