Death Could Not Hold Him

The man from Galilee was dead. 

Arrested in Gethsemane. Dragged before the Sanhedrin. Accused of blasphemy. Taken to Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Sentenced to be flogged. Taunted by soldiers. Carried cross to Calvary’s hill. Tortured by spikes driven into hands and feet. Hung to die. Side pierced by spear to be sure he was dead. Body removed by family before sundown. Laid in a borrowed tomb. 

Evil had triumphed.Or so it seemed.

Those who despised him when he was alive were afraid of him in death. They insisted that Roman guards be posted outside the tomb to ensure he had no visitors. Soldiers who failed their task were executed. No one would get to Jesus.

But on the morning of the third day Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James, and Salome, women friends of Jesus, went to anoint the body with embalming spices (Mark 16:1-7). What they found was an earthquake had shaken the ground, the soldiers lay as dead men in their fear, and the stone that covered the tomb had been rolled away. Inside an angel robed in white sat. He said to them, “Do not be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen. Go and tell his disciples.”

Jesus spent forty days visiting and talking with those who knew Him. He appeared to the remaining eleven disciples and commanded them to go into the world and tell people what they had witnessed.

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved, and he who does not believe will be condemned.”(Mark 16:16)

And after he had met with those He needed to see, Jesus led them to Bethany and raising His hands He ascended into the clouds. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

Jesus promised eternal life to those who believed in Him. That promise still stands today. May this Easter find you claiming faith in the risen Savior. Hallelujah!