RESURRECTION SATURDAY: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18

But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 28:5-6

What happened: I try to imagine how distraught Jesus’ followers must have been in light of His crucifixion. I’m not sure I can fully comprehend it. They wagered their lives Jesus being the Messiah. And now He was dead and buried. The men were hiding out. The women, were serving, going to the tomb to anoint His mangled and lifeless corpse.

When the women arrived at the tomb, the stone door was rolled away. His body was not there. Angels appeared speaking words of comfort that Jesus was not there because He had risen from the dead. When the women went to tell the disciples (Mark 16:9-10), “they did not believe.”

Key thoughts: Jesus did not rise from the dead because we believe He did. Neither is He the way, the truth, and the life because we believe His is. No. Our belief does not make what is untrue, true. Neither does our unbelief make what is true, untrue. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and He did rise from the dead whether you or I, or anybody else, believes it or not.

Application: All who are saved believe in the risen Savior, While people’s belief or unbelief do not change the facts about who He is or that He rose—each person’s belief results in forgiveness of sin and everlasting life in Heaven with Him. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

If you have believed, REJOICE! If you haven’t believed, I pray that you will!