Luke 24:1-7-

1Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

I wish you and your families a very Happy Easter.  I pray that you remember that Easter isn’t about bunnies or candy but about Jesus rising from the dead and fulfilling what was promised.  Easter is such a happy day as Jesus rose from the dead and we can be joyful in knowing that He is alive.  I can only imagine what His followers felt on Friday when Jesus died on the cross.  They knew what He promised and I am sure they believed Him but I also know they were human and they had some doubts.  They saw Him take His last breath and if I am completely honest it was probably pretty hard for them to remain hopeful.  But then imagine just three days later, He fulfilled that promise.  I am constantly awestruck when I think about those days and how His followers felt.  I am sure lots of tears were shed but I hope that with tears of sadness they also shed tears of joy knowing He was going to do as He promised He was.

Luke 24:46-49-

46Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And you are witnesses of these things. 49Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

He Is Risen.  We can have hope.  Hope in the knowledge that He died for us and for our sins.  We are apart from God because of our sins, they separate us from God but Jesus bridged that gap.  We are able to come to God because of Christ Jesus.  Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, the only one needed.  (Romans 3:25- whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed and Romans 5:6-8-6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us).  Just think, Jesus died for YOU.  It is a pretty amazing thought, and one that makes me so thankful that I have Jesus in my life.  Take today to celebrate Him!