Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

• Matthew 28:1-10

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

• John 11:25-26

Happy Easter.

He has risen.  He has risen indeed.

I think it was in A. W. Tozer’s The Crucified Life where it is written that Jesus did not come to earth to do good works, but to obey His Father.  Really, the good works were part of the deal in that the people of Israel would know that Jesus was sent by God by those works.  In other words, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.

Jesus came to earth to take on own sin burden and offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice.

And He rose from the grave to tell about it.  Praise the Lord.  He has risen.

Have an enjoyable Easter, what is left of it.  And for those celebrating Easter Monday, be careful.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.