Today's Reading: St. Mark 16:1-8
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10 – 31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13
“They said nothing to no one for they were afraid.” (St. Mark 16:8b)
Alleluia!Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the name of Jesus. Amen. A Happy Lent makes for a reallyhappy Happy Easter! The One who died on Good Friday has risen from the dead!
“Do not be alarmed,” says the young man dressed in white, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Go and tell the disciples and Peter that He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There, you will see Him just as He told you.” (v. 6)
Still, the women freaked out. You would, too. They were gripped and seized by fear. They had come to prepare a dead body for burial. Not only did they not find a dead body, the stone wasn’t even where it was supposed to be!
The tomb is empty, and that changes everything! Since Christ is risen from the dead, the dead no longer stay dead. They rise from the dead in Him. Because Jesus has risen, sin no longer kills. The sting of sin is death, and death has lost its sting! It killed Him and was conquered by Him in the process.
The Law? The Law is still in the tomb and it’s not ever coming out again! It’s been fulfilled once for all time by the One Crucified and now risen from the dead. And you? You are alive today! Not just breathing alive—but reallyalive. Risen-from-the-dead alive! Risen from the dead to love God the way He wants to be loved—in Christ. Enlivened to love your neighbor the way they need you to love them—in Christ.
The women went away trembling and afraid. They said nothing to no one. That double negative means: They hid from the Easter Gospel. But He’ll raise them from their fears. He’ll raise you from your fears, too. How could He not? He died for you. He rose for you. He lives right now for you.
The Lenten fast is over, but our joy has just begun! For Christ has won! The battle is done. He’s conquered sin. He’s kicked death’s behind. He’s buried the Law and all its condemnations. He’s given us new life—life that will never die again. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”