Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Yes, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He left the grave empty, with the exception of the grave clothes. The linen wrappings and the face cloth were left behind. But Jesus was no longer there.
Mary, Peter, and John were all amazed. Peter and John returned to where the other disciples were staying. I’m sure they were excited and ready to pass the news along that Jesus had risen from the grave. There was likely a very lively conversation.
Mary hung around. She was thinking someone had moved His body. She was about to receive an even bigger surprise. Jesus was about to make a personal appearance to her. He was about to comfort her and show her that her belief in Him was not in vain.
How do we encounter the risen Savior? Do we receive Him with excitement? Does that excitement continue? The risen Christ is the most wonderful reason for excitement. Believing in Him with joy, hope, and faith is an awesome experience.
Because He has risen, we have the hope of eternity spent with Him. We have been promised that we will live because He lives. Jesus has paved the way for us. Our belief that He is risen is the first step we take in our faith and following Him.
I pray we all believe in the risen Christ. I pray we accept the hope Jesus provides when we put our faith in Him. I pray each one of us will choose to follow the risen Savior. Believe Jesus has risen. Be joyous about it. Experience Him. Put your faith in Jesus. Trust that you will live with Him.
John 20:6-7 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
Marty Pressey 