It was The Day the World Changed, but they didn’t know it. Jesus, whom they had followed even to the cross, was dead. And for them, the world had lost its lustre. But that’s not the end of the story.
We have a children’s book with gorgeous illustrations, and a small bush deer is hidden on each page, observing the action. And, much like that little observer, I see the ladies in the Easter story tucked away in the background of each scene. But they played an important role as the story unfolded.
Mary Magdalen and several other women had followed Jesus from Galilee and watched the crucifixion from a distance. Afterwards, they went to the burial site and saw Him laid to rest. When they returned, they expected to anoint the cold, lifeless body of their Lord with the spices they had prepared. But the scene that greeted them changed their lives forever.
An angel, whose presence initially startled them and nearly scared their sandals off, told them, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay,” Matthew 28:6a (NIV). That was not how they expected the day to progress, and I’m sure it took a few minutes to process exactly what it meant. The angel then commissioned the women, who until then had been on the sidelines of the story, to tell the others the epic news. They were the messengers who carried an announcement that rocked the world.
So why does the empty tomb matter? Wasn’t it enough that Jesus was a good man who lived an exemplary life and taught people how to live well? Doesn’t that count regardless of the state of the tomb?
In 1 Corinthians 15:17, Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” Jesus promised that he would rise again on the third day (Matthew 16:21). If He were incapable of accomplishing that feat, then our faith would indeed be in vain. If He couldn’t do that, then He wouldn’t have the power to fulfill any of His other promises. But that was The Day the World Changed because Jesus did rise. HE IS ALIVE!
Our faith is not futile. Jesus came to Earth with a mission, and ultimately, that was to sacrifice His life for ours. Before that day, our sins separated us from God, and we didn’t have a way to clean up the mess and reach Him. Jesus was the only one who could bridge that gap for us. He was God in human form and without sin, and He took our punishment for us. The fact that He did rise validates everything He ever said. He promised He wouldn’t stay dead, and He didn’t.
Many people who worship the gods of other religions live in fear and are always trying to appease them, but nothing is ever good enough to reach that goal. Our God sent Jesus to die because He loves us. We don’t need to live in fear, always hoping that what we have done is good enough. Our faith doesn’t depend on our performance. It depends on believing and accepting Jesus’ sacrifice. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the empty tomb was a love letter to humanity.
If you’ve never looked beyond the Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs, give Jesus’ resurrection some careful thought. Either what He said was true, or it wasn’t. There’s no middle ground, and the tomb is empty. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” and that He is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6). Will you choose to go all in and follow Him? If you already follow Him, will you share the story of the resurrection and what it means, as the ladies in the Bible did?
Easter isn’t a fluffy holiday with admittedly yummy treats and fun gatherings. It’s the celebration of The Day the World Changed.
“He is risen!”
Happy Easter, everyone. Until next time,
Brenda Erb Roberts
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For further reading:
My previous Inspirational reflection: Longing for God or the Supreme Slot Machine?
Looking Back: Last April’s Inspirational article: Come and See!
My latest Lighter Side (Humour) blog post: My Mother Didn’t Have Me Tested. It makes me laugh every time I read it.