The angel at the tomb tells the women of the resurrection "Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away ...
They saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Do not be alarmed, he said, "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen He is not here."
This is the account of the event in history that has been making its impact on the world ever since. It is remarkably simple and indeed homely. The scene is full of loving, gentle, and strong devotion. The women had gone to the tomb bringing spices to anoint Jesus's body. The young man spoke with consideration for them as he told them just what they wanted to hear "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified." Those facts would alleviate doubts that might arise "After all he did speak of Jesus as a Nazarene and he knew that Jesus had been crucified."
The news of the resurrection spread among the disciples who at first were hesitant, and then they shouted out the glad news that we joyfully declare on Easter day
Christ is risen The Lord is risen indeed Alleluia.
The impact of the resurrection of Jesus was and is so great that Easter is the supreme festival and Sunday, the first day of the week, is The Lord's Day.
Items of news that are front page headlines in today's newspaper are unlikely to be the same next day. We think back to the news of man's landing on the moon and the world wide attention it received. We notice a waning in attention to so stupendous an event as time has passed. Of course the great achievement remains true and alive if noticed or not. The same is true of news that is nearly 2,000 years old "the resurrection of Jesus Christ". For believers it is as alive as on the first Easter day.
Attitudes vary. Believers are enthusiastic as they enjoy the living presence of the risen Lord. Others who see it as only an event of the past may treat it in an automatic way. It may not inspire the enthusiasm it merits. For believers it is by no means stale or forgotten news. One has only to imagine what it would be like if there had been no Jesus . . . no Holy Week message . . . or no resurrection. That can be shattering.
Behind the story of Holy Week and Easter stands the determination of the loving God. He suffered, died, and rose victoriously to cure the world. By His dying He destroyed the power of death. By His rising He restored the wonder of his life in us. At the centre of our Easter communion we declare
Christ our passover has been sacrificed jar is therefore let is celebrate the feast.
With happy confidence we trust in His "one complete and all sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world". It is simply wonderful to know deeply
There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin,
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven and let us in.