CHRIST IS RISEN, HALLELUJAH!
During the morning watch: Early in the morning, the two women who were burdened by the death of Jesus woke up early to visit the tomb. Even at His death these women were caring for Him. They were there bringing with them spices which they had prepared to anoint His body. They went forth during the morning watch despite the eminent dangers and risk, cruelty of the Jewish soldiers and the calamity occasioned by Jesus crucifixion on the cross of shame. The morning is the beginning of the new day, new week, new dawn and new life. Its not only for men but for angels and demons. Whatever is planned in the night, they go out early in the morning to execute them. The Psalmist says, My voice you shall hear in the morning oh Lord. In the morning I will direct it to You and I will look up [Psalm 5:3]. The song writer sang, In the morning, early in the morning, in the morning I will rise and praise the Lord. I will appreciate Him for preserving me throughout the night. Despite the arrows of the enemies shut at night, God kept me saved and protected. The zeal of the Lord quickens me to rise up early to praise and worship Him. I will depend on His mercies and grace for everything I need. Workers [farmers, traders, public and private employees] wake up early and go to work. They work and look unto God for yield and wages. After the burial, only loved ones go back to the tomb; when every other person had gone, only the deepest lovers and closed relations stay close. They were willing to stake their lives for Jesus
Rolled the stone away: The fears of the two women who went to anoint Him were: who will help roll up the tomb so that they could minister to the corpse of Jesus. The ancient tomb was covered by heavy stone. It separates deadness in the tomb and life outside. Acts of the Apostles records that death could not hold Jesus captive in the grave. This was the decision of the throne of God even before His death on the cross. To actualize that decision, in the fullness of time, God sent just one angel to roll away the tomb. He pulled aside the stone that covered the tomb and sat on it. The power of heaven has authority over the earth. It could be interpreted that God has power over every death, life, situations and circumstances of life; whether its sickness or attacks from demonic wickedness or marine spirit, God has power over them. Every thing that God caused to die: every dead person, dead situation must obey the direction of divine council of heaven. He did not only pull the stone aside but also sat on it. By sitting, the angel subdued, had perfect control and dominion over it. It also overcame the power of death and any other associated sickness or ugly situation of life. Preceding the angels assignment was a great earthquake evidencing something unusual, uncommon, tremendous and catastrophic has happened. The works of Satan destroyed and an ambush of the kingdom of hell foiled. God has rolled away every spirit and power of death and Christ risen to reign for ever. Hes not here, Hes risen, hallelujah. The son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise again [Luke 24:7]. Lift up your hands O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting door! And the King of glory shall come in .The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory [Psalm 24:7-10].
The Guards at The tomb: More guards were deployed to keep vigil over the tomb, since they already know that the Son of man had predicted that He will rise on the third day. The power of heaven governs the activities on earth. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident [Psalm 27:2-3]. Arise O Lord, Do not let mere men prevail .Put them in fear O Lord that the Nations may know themselves to be but men [Psalm 9:19-20]. Men are the works of Gods hand and cant prevail against God, their creator. When the pangs of death surrounded me and the flood of ungodliness made me fear. The sorrows of Sheol surround me. The snares of death confronted me And I cried out to the Lord Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundation of the hills also quaked and were shaken .smoke went up from His nostrils and devouring fire from His mouth, coals were kindled by it .The lord thundered from heaven; and the Most high uttered his voice, hail stone and coal of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foes. The foundations of the world were uncovered [Psalm 18:4-15]. At the sight of the angel from the throne of heaven, the guards were frozen and shocked with fear like dead men.
Do not be afraid: Each time God is about to do something extraordinary, He warns man not to fear. In this unique occasion that warning was most appropriate. The women went into the opened tomb and did not find the body of Jesus; they were afraid. The angel said, Youre seeking the living among the dead. Hes not here, but is risen. Do not be afraid for what you have seen is beyond human device and comprehension. Its unusual but the power of heaven is responsible for this uncommon singled event in history.
The king of glory is telling us do not be afraid, when the lamb walks, the blind sees and the dead risen. Its evidence that the kingdom of God is here. Jesus had returned the errand sent to John the Baptize saying: tell him what you saw: the blind see, lamb walks and dead rose. Thats evidence of Gods kingdom on earth. That means the decision of the throne of God is completed and fulfilled. The effect of the cross is now manifested. Do not be afraid when God heals one whom the medical experts have declared incurable. Do not be afraid when God turns a village drunk into a local Evangelist. Do not be afraid when the powers of heaven subdue the works of iniquities; when thunder and lightening destroys witches, monitoring spirits and evil men. God has dispatched His angel to dislodge all earthly problems, to cancel the decision of the assembly of hell and sit on every plan the enemies of life have put in motion. Every decision of late night meeting of marine and monitoring witches God has put to nothing. God has dispatched emissary of heaven to defend your course, take away the pangs of death and restore your health. Jesus resurrection brought forth restoration and reconciliation in completion.
Dont be afraid; I bring you good news of great joy. This good news is for you, good news for me, and good news for all people regardless of their color, race and circumstances; no matter how screwy our tree of that matter, no matter what has been happening in our lives. In spite of the empty space that incurable disease has created, that broken relationship. Heres the good news: Jesus died to conquer death and set man free. Hes risen, Hallelujah It was necessary for Christ to suffer and died and to rise from dead on the third day that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations .and youre witnesses of these things; behold I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarry .until you are endured with power from on high [Luke 24:46-49].
Some Evidences in support of Jesus Resurrection:
- Jesus birth was natural but His conception was supernatural; so also was His death natural but His resurrection supernatural. These miraculous conception and resurrection were congruous with his deity.
- By the resurrection God has reversed man sentence and vindicated His son. Jesus Resurrection is considered the best attested fact in history. Women who went to the tomb were dumbfounded to discover that the body was not there.
- The tomb was empty; the body gone: Could the women have gone to another tomb? These women were no fools. They knew where the body was laid. They went to anoint the body of Christ with spices. Again, if the women mistaken the tomb, would Peter and John [Jesus closed Apostles] who ran to verify the women story made the same mistake? Some opined that Jesus simply fainted and was not buried but laid in the tomb. He did not die on the cross. He simply got revived in the tomb and left it. Who then open the tomb and broke the Roman seal that was placed to avoid vandalization? After the rigors, pains of trail, mockery, flogging and crucifixion he could survive 36 hours in a stone sepulchure with neither warmth or food or medical care?
- When one of the soldiers pierced Jesus side with spear and at once there came out blood and water [the body system collapsed]; He medically had died.
- Where was the swoop team of the Romans Guards [soldiers]; when did Jesus become a superman and broke the Roman seal and pulled back the tomb while the soldiers watch helplessly.
- Thieves stole the body! There is no substantiated evidence on this claim. Where were the soldiers that held vigilantee over the tomb? Where they persecuted for sleeping on duty on a very crucial state assignment? How could the thieves steal the body yet left the grave cloth? What could have been their motives?
- The disciples removed the body! Matthew Gospel said that Pilate received deputation of Chief Priest and the Pharisees who reminded him that Jesus boasted He will rise on the third day. Pilate ordered the security at the tomb be re-enforced and the tomb barricaded and secured as much as they can. Could the disciples have removed the body yet surprised at the story that the tomb was empty and hurried to see it. Yet they continue to preach that He resurrected? This would amount to spreading planned falsehood? Who would perpetuate and preach as well as die for lie? They were tortured, persecuted and eleven out of the twelve Apostles die martyrs for what they knew and believed; were eyewitnesses. Few weeks after Jesus death, the Christians were boldly proclaiming His resurrection while those who killed Him were still alive.
- The Jewish authority took the body into their custody! If they had it, what has happened to the body 2000 years after? If they had it, they would have produced the remains of the body and publish a statement of what happened or were the guards all sleep on duty while the events of resurrection took place? If the resurrection is disproved, the Church is collapsed, Christianity is fraud, believers are most miserable of all mankind.
These are all the man made theories invented to try to discredit and explain away the emptiness of the tomb and the disappeared body. None of these is neither satisfactory nor has historical evidence. For want of adequate alternative explanation, perhaps narrative of the gospels that described the events of the First Easter Day: Jesus is risen; Hes no longer in the grave. He was raised by God, the Father.
- The grave clothes were undisturbed [John 20:5-9].The body of Jesus had gone but the grave clothes had not. John accompanied Peter on the dramatic early morning race to the tomb. No wonder his remarks bear unmistakable remarks of first time experience. What did John saw and believe? [John 20:5-7].
– strips of linen lying there [vs. 5]
– The burial cloth that had been around Jesus head [vs. 7]
– The head napkin [cloth] was not only lying but wrapped together- folded up by itself.
– The head napkin was lying separate from the limens cloth by noticeable space.[compare with Lazarus experience in John 11:44]
Jesus body passed through the grave clothes just as He passed through closed doors, leaving them untouched and almost undisturbed. The body clothes under the weight of about 100 lbs of spices [John19:38-42]. Once the support of the body had been removed would have subsided or collapsed and would now lying flat. A glance at this grave cloth and the gap between the two proved the reality and the nature of the resurrection. The position of the grave cloth and the absent of the body are solid evidence of resurrection.
10. Post Resurrection Appearances to chosen witnesses: [1 Corinthians 15:1f].
-To Mary Magdalene
– to The woman returning from the tomb
– to Peter
– To two disciples on the road to Emmaus
– To Ten gathered in the Upper Room
– To the Eleven including Thomas [a week after]
– To more than 500 brethren at one time.
– To James [Jesus brother]
– To some disciples including Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John by GalileeLake side
-To many on the Mount of Olives near Bethany on Ascension
– To Paul on his way to Damascus.
11. The Life Transformation of the Disciples. This item is very important evidence and that has continued to occur even in our day and time. The resurrection affected not only the early disciples but also as many as have accepted Jesus as Christ and Lord of Life; put their faith in Him. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times before His crucifixion, preached the most important message of the New Testament as recorded in the book of Acts of Apostles. James [Jesus Brother] later became a leader in the JerusalemChurch and called himself a bond slave to God and Jesus Christ. Thomas, the doubter who denied Jesus resurrection until he saw evidence to make him believe, made the great confession by calling Jesus, My Lord and God. The power of the risen Savior is still the same today; saving and changing lives, healing the sick and causing break through and open doors.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.