What The Angel Said

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Mark 16:5-7

     So there it is, the ladies who had come to the tomb to find Jesus' body had come to the wrong place. I love what the Angel says, "He is not here." Don't look for Jesus in the graveyard among the dead. He is alive forevermore. And what the Angel says following is of tremendous importance "Go tell his disciples," they need to know without a doubt that the cross, that death, that sin had not conquered their Savior. He is risen! Peter gets special mention here, we know his story how he betrayed Jesus and Jesus died. Imagine his guilt, but the angel says let him know death did not win, Jesus is alive. Is it any wonder that these men and women could go out and share this story and turn the world upside down?

     Believers today, you and me, we need to know He's not in the graveyard. Ministers today who are preaching for God need to know without doubt in their heart that Jesus is risen from the dead. Missionaries need to know that too. All of us who may ever have the chance of witnessing to our faith in Christ as Savior need to be absolutely certain and proclaim it with assurance, that Jesus Christ died for me. and He rose again for me, and I am justified because of him.

     So may the pulpits of the churches worldwide ring this coming Sunday, Easter, with the absolute certain sound of preachers telling the church and all the world that He was crucified, but He is risen from the dead.