by Daniel Burton

The world changed rather rapidly during the course of three days.  First, the one they called the Christ and the Messiah hung on a cross for crimes that no one could fully understand.  The Pharisees leveled the charge that Jesus claimed to be God incarnate yet completely ignored the signs and indications that these claims remained completely true.  Jesus Christ died a sinners death fulfilling countless biblical prophesies and standing as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind.  Then came the silence.  For three days, it seemed as if the earths stood still.  The rebellious sect of Judaism that has stirred up trouble all throughout Israel appeared to have been defeated and the  had been defeated through the crucifixion of its leader.

Or so they thought…

The disciples hid in fear of the impending persecution that came as the final thirst to squelch a potential rebellion was punished.  On the third day the God King had been brutally crucified, the earth shook.  The stone in front of the tomb of Jesus Christ, too heavy for any man to merely push aside, rolled away from the grave.  The Romans guards fell blinded and overcome.  Jesus had risen from the dead and the world would never be the same.  As Mary and Martha sought to go care for the body of their Savior, holding out devotion until the end and angel appeared to them.    

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.” 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.

– Matthew 28:1-7

The angel sat on the stone and informed the women of Jesus’ resurrection.  The women ran and told the disciples who investigated and reported that Jesus no longer resided in the grave.  The word spread throughout the country for all to hear; Jesus rose from the grave.  He had returned.  Over the next few days he appeared to His disciples and various other persons and they experienced the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Where once the King died, now He reigns victorious over heaven and earth, over death and life.

The Fanfare of Death Defeated

The angels understood the implications of Jesus’ resurrection.  There they sat atop the stone rolled away in a victory that Jesus is alive.  As Mary and Martha approached the tomb, I can only image the smirk on the face of the angels; “He isn’t here.”  They were looking for a corpse, but no corpse would be found today.  Only the evidence of Christ’s death remained, His grave clothes, folded nicely and laying there in His place.  There was evidence that Jesus HAD died but no evidence to say that He was still dead.  Jesus defeated death and holds the power over it.

The fullness of the wrath of God pour out on Jesus Christ for the sins of those who would follow Him.  He died in their place and vanquished the grasp of sin and death from the throats of mankind.  We have everything we need for our freedom by the blood of Christ shed on the cross.  Death rests under the feet of Jesus Christ.  Those who follow Christ will never see the impact of death and despair as they, too, will rise again through the power of Jesus Christ.  Death is defeated and Christ is risen.

A Risen King

As the disciples encountered the risen Lord appearing before them over the course of days, their began to understand the fullness of the prophesies and the weight of the impact. For the thing that mankind found fatal, death, Christ Jesus endured and rose.  The words of the Prophet Hosea resounded across time and space “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?“ (Hosea 13:14, NIV)  For many of the disciples, the impact of the resurrection ushered them into death, torture, and pain.  Yet they endured it all knowing that death would not be their demise and their home is secured in eternity.

Our lives are forever impacted by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Through His death our sins our forgiven and through His life our eternity is cemented in unbreakable stone.  Our lives can reflect the image of God who has defeated and conquered the fabric of death.  There is no destruction that can befall us or overtake us.  Paul David Trip says “If Jesus Can conquer sin and death – and the Empty Tomb is proof he can – then there is no dark thing in your heart that he is not also able to defeat.”  Any struggle, temptation, pain or suffering are conquered by Christ’s defeat of death. We live our lives in a manner that proclaims that not even death can stop our God.

For more in this series, check out Seven Last Words of Christ.

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