He Has Risen!

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Lk 24:5-6)

The women who went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus were looking for a dead man, and if they had found him we would never have heard about it. Generally speaking dead people stay put. But Jesus is different. Everybody thought they knew that. Of course he’s different! He is the Messiah – a miracle worker and a prophet. But then he died, and it wasn’t supposed to end like that. These women were filled with sorrow because they loved Jesus. But they expected to find him there that morning, in the cemetery with the other dead people. Until that moment they didn't understand how different he is. Until they saw the empty tomb and heard the angels proclaim, “He has risen!”

He has risen! This morning that wonderful cry will ring out from the lips of two billion Christians. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, incarnate in human flesh, died for our sins but he didn’t stay dead! The tomb is empty. You won’t find him at the cemetery. The moment that might have been forgotten centuries ago is instead celebrated as the most singular event in human history. He lives! Our Savior lives! Alleluia!

Poor For Our Sakes

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)

If we had never heard of the Crucifixion or the Resurrection, we would already have been astonished by the Incarnation. Before the Lord Jesus had ever been beaten or mocked or harmed in any way, he already had shown the depth of his love for us by laying aside his glory to become a man. That he, who lives enthroned in heaven, would leave it behind to step into frail human flesh is already a sacrifice too great for us to comprehend. Truly, he became poor for our sakes. And now we have his promise, paid by his blood and sealed by his Spirit, “that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (I Jn 3:2) Then we will truly be made rich, to live forever in the glory and splendor of his presence.