April 5

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay’.“ —MATTHEW 28:5-6

The combined death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought about the greatest event in human history. Matthew’s account of that Sunday morning says, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it” (Matthew 28:1-2). 

The angel, clothed in snow white, his appearance like lightning, had so frightened the guards they shook and became like dead men. The angel announced to the women Jesus had risen and showed them the place where He had lain. He then sent them quickly on their way with a message for the disciples, saying, “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Afraid yet filled with joy, the women left, and suddenly Jesus met with them. They fell at His feet and worshipped.

Despite the fact Jesus had told His disciples He would be crucified, and raised to life on the third day, they did not believe the women. Luke 24:11 says, “Their words seemed to them like nonsense.” Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. He saw it was empty, looked at the strips of linen, and went away wondering. On that same evening, Jesus appeared to His disciples still hidden behind locked doors. “Peace be with you,” He said, and thinking He was a ghost, they were terrified. Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your mind?” (Luke 24:38).

The reason the disciples did not initially believe is the same reason many of us do not get it today. We operate within a rational world; things we can touch, smell, see, hear and explain. But we cannot reduce the Christian life to a predictable pattern where the supernatural, which can only be explained in terms of God, becomes redundant in our lives. We will never truly experience the power of the living Christ until we step beyond the physical and material world. 

Christianity either stands or falls based on the fact of Christ having died and been raised to life; so much so, Paul writes, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). All four Gospels record the resurrection of Jesus Christ not as symbolic in any way, but as a literal, physical fact. Though we may believe in a historical Jesus being raised from the dead, we need to equally believe in a living, active Jesus who brings us into relationship with Him.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, this day is so special. Thank You for all You endured so that You could be raised to life again by our Heavenly Father, and indwell us by your Spirit.

TO REFLECT UPON: How would I counteract any doubt as to the supernatural power of Christ in my life?