In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

Luke 24:5-6a

Hallelujah! We serve a Risen Savior!

I can only imagine the confusion and fear that Jesus’ friends and followers must have initially felt when they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Surely they must have thought that someone had stolen the body of their Lord. Then, just as quickly how that confusion and panic must have turned to joy and celebration as they learned from the angel that Jesus was alive!

For two dark days they had wept and lived in fear, some hiding, at least one outright denying his relationship with Christ. And now, now their friend, their Savior was alive! He had overcome the grave! He was not there! It would take a few more weeks of walking with Jesus for them to fully understand just what that meant about their Jesus, just what that meant for them. But oh friends, history has already shown us just what Jesus’ resurrection means for us and – spoiler alert – IT IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!

You see, Jesus did not die and rise again for Himself. He died and rose again for you and for me and for all people everywhere for all time! On that cross He carried my sins and your sins and He took them to the grave with Him. Then, He rose again and those sins were washed away! He died and rose again so that when we die in our physical bodies, we do not have to suffer the death of sin, eternal death. Because of His sacrifice and resurrection, the way was made for us to live eternally with Him in Heaven after our bodies die physically here on earth.

As if that were not enough, He works in our hearts to preserve us against spiritual decay while we yet live. God’s Word gives us instruction and Holy Spirit guides us in what is right. Jesus intercedes on our behalf and calls us always to Him.

When I think on this, I am always reminded of the outro to a Lauren Daigle song, “Still Rolling Stones”. It goes like this:

‐——-

I thought that I was too far gone

For everything I’ve done wrong

Yeah, I’m the one who dug this grave

But You called my name

You called my name

All at once I came alive

This beating heart, these open eyes

The grave let go

The darkness should have known

You’re still rolling stones

——

Oh friends, that is the best news this Easter morning and every morning: God is still rolling stones! Temptation and selfishness, fear and anger, have all gotten the best of me at sometime or another and I’ve dug my own grave more times than I like to think about, and I’d wager you have too. BUT God – Mighty God! Risen King! Holy One! – God is still rolling stones and reaching into the grave and pulling us out!

No mistake is so big He can’t handle it. No sin too egregious. Our God has overcome the grave once and for all through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He will rescue you from death itself so that you may live eternally with Him and not just that, He’ll rescue you from spiritual decay on earth as well and fill your life with the joy and peace and confidence that comes with following Him.

Brothers and Sisters, sing loudly this morning the praises of our Risen King! Sweet friends, if you’ve not yet made Him lord over your life, if you’ve not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, committed your life to Him and asked Him to wash away your sins and save your soul for all eternity, there’s no better time than now, no better place than right where you are.

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