He is risen!

On Easter Sunday morning, I woke up early to get ready and get to church by 7am to sing with the Easter choir. I tried to build in enough time so I that I wouldn't have to rush (this is my chronic problem--a time warp that happens in my house anytime that I am getting ready and think that I've allowed enough time).

One of the things that can get me tripped up (sad to say) is when I take time to read the Bible. Of course, if I'd get up earlier, it would help, but that doesn't happen every time. Anyway, yesterday morning, I got to thinking about what it must have been like for the women at the tomb to discover that Christ was risen. I got out my Bible and read the account from all four gospels (maybe that's why I lost track of time), but the account from Matthew stuck out in my mind.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

 When I got to church and was participating in the worship services, almost all of the songs carried the same theme, "He is risen!," "Christ is risen." And then this passage from Matthew 28 was read. I've said before how much I love it when God "layers" His truth for me. Since I was in the choir, I got to sing the songs and hear the scripture read three times throughout the morning. And then I found the photo that I posted at the top of this blog. Even though it is the day after Easter, the message still rings true:  HE IS RISEN!