Luke 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 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? 6 He is not here; he has risen!
“He is not here; he is risen!” These words are the good news, the gospel! Jesus is alive. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.” Every Sunday I preach a sermon I prepared throughout the week. If Jesus is still in the grave, I have wasted countless hours preparing these sermons and you have wasted countless hours coming to church to listen to them. But Since Christ is risen, we know that our time spent in God’s Word is fruitful.
Even more, the angels proclaimed, “He is not here.” However, ever since Pentecost, we can now proclaim, “He IS here!” Indeed, Jesus sends His Spirit to believers every day to teach, encourage, protect, and heal. May we boldly proclaim the gospel, as the Holy Spirit empowers us to speak and live the truth of the gospel.
He Is Risen, Indeed!
Pastor Vern