by Angela Moreno

The battle in the grave is over.  Death is overcome!

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus are visiting the tomb of Jesus. A violent earthquake shakes the earth and an angel of God removes the stone covering the doorway to the tomb. The appearance of the angel is so terrifying that the guards cannot even move.

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.” (Matthew 28:5).

The women are afraid but also very excited. They are running back to Jerusalem where the disciples are hiding to tell them the good news. On the way, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:10).

Meanwhile, the guards have a story of their own to tell. They are reporting back to the chief priests about the events they just saw. The chief priests pay the guards to circulate the story that Jesus’s disciples have stolen the body. They are afraid of what Jesus’s resurrection will stir-up in the His followers.

Both Marys report to the disciples what they have seen and they do not believe what they are hearing. Two other men have an encounter with Jesus and also report seeing Jesus to the disciples. While this story is told to the disciples, Jesus Himself appears to the disciples. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:28).

Jesus eats with the disciples and reminds them that everything that has occurred was foretold in the scriptures and that Jesus Himself told them that these events would occur. He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures and commissioned each of them to spread the gospel to the world. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 18:20).

Jesus appears to more than 500 people before He ascends into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father.

What does this mean for us?

Jesus is the only one who can save you from your sins. When we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). We all sin and we all are unworthy of the gift of forgiveness that Jesus gives us.  The results of sin are separation from God and death. Apart from God, we are dead in our ways and destined to die. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ.  Jesus said in John 14:6:  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus requires nothing from us but to believe that He is God’s son, He died on the cross, and was resurrected three days later.  Jesus promises to “give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

All we have to do is ask.  All you have to do is invite Jesus into your heart and into your life to guide you and your decisions. You must confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Son of God, that He was crucified on the cross, and was raised from the dead three days later (1 John 4:15). This is a free gift from Jesus that only requires you to accept the gift and accept Jesus as the Son of God.

If you have not received Jesus and would like to, pray the following prayer:

Dear God, I come to you in the name of Jesus.  I need you.  I know that I’m a sinner and in need of a savior.  I now turn to you Jesus.  I believe you died for me and were raised from the dead by God.  I believe you are Lord and I now confess you as my Lord and I welcome you into my heart forever.  Thank you that I am now born again.  I am saved and am a part of your family.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen.